Description

Dangerous Parallel is an instructional game that was created in 1969 by the Foreign Policy Association and published by Scott, Foresman & Co. In the game students are divided into small groups of 2 to 6 members, each playing a ministerial role in the government of six nations that correspond roughly to the real-life participants of the Korean War conflict.

The nations are:

Inland (N Korea)
Outland (S Korea)
Transania (Soviet Union)
Hameel (China)
New Zenith (the West)
and Nordo (India, the Third World?)

This game was originally released as a seven box set. Each nation receives its own box (as named above) of briefing materials. In addition, the Control box contains materials for the instructor to moderate the game.

In Dangerous Parallel, there are a number of different scenarios. The one that I played is essentially the same as the Korean War. Inland invades Outland who are aided by New Zenith. After a vicious and successful counterattack, the players are asked to make the next move. Will, for example, Hameel aid Inland, risking nuclear war if Transania becomes involved.

Each country has the following ministers:

Chief Minister
Defense Minister
Political Minister (Minister of Interior, or Police)
Foreign Minister
Foreign Intelligence Minister
Economics Minister
Minister of Information
Several Ambassadors

There is a requirement that the Foreign Minister is not the Chief Minister to allow for espionage. Also, you can allow for multiple roles for each participant.