Simulation Game “Beyond Failures: A Global Citizens’ Assembly for Sustainable Futures”

Today’s polarised political debates often lack a vision of participatory global governance and innovative ideas for more prosperous, just and sustainable futures. On 4 and 5 November 2025, 49 participants from all three IDOS training programmes came together to take on this challenge.

This event also marked the first time that all three programmes- the Managing Global Governance Academy, the Postgraduate Programme for Sustainability Cooperation, and selected alumni from the Shaping Futures network- participated in a joint activity. Jointly developed by IDOS and planpolitik, the simulation game “Beyond Failures” provided a hands-on learning experience that illustrates the complexities of global deliberations. Participants not only enhanced their understanding of dynamics in debates but also strengthened their competences in cooperation, diversity, and future-oriented thinking. Networking across training programmes also helped build connections that can support their future cooperative efforts.

Through the simulation format, participants stepped into fictional roles and formed a global citizens’ assembly tasked with envisioning pathways towards sustainable futures. They worked in four parallel yet interconnected topics:

• Economic dimension of sustainability: Moving beyond economistic measures of prosperity, equal access to global commons
• Ecological dimension of sustainability: Balancing human and non-human interests in biodiversity protection
• Social dimension of sustainability: Creating digital public spaces? Protecting and creating ways of communication in the public sphere
• Sustainable knowledge and cooperation: Who has access to knowledge and who is heard – and how does this shape cooperation?

On the first day, participants developed the shared vision, mission, and goals of their group while navigating the dilemmas within their respective thematic groups. On the second day, discussions deepened as participants collaboratively created narratives and innovation strategies to transform their visions into actionable pathways for sustainable futures. The simulation drew on the principles of sociocracy and Ubuntu, fostering efficient and inclusive group deliberation.