Activity Overview

What was 9/11? How did this event change the world forever? What is NATO? What happened in the history of Afghanistan that led to war again in 2001?
Students will engage in a consensus building activity to demonstrate their critical thinking skills involving Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan and
the War on Terror.

Consensus building has been a part of Afghanistan’s history for centuries and is known as a jirga. It involves Pashtun elders in a community council using mediators to hear and debate disputes as a means to find a resolution. Once the jirga hears both sides of the conflict and considers the options, it comes to a decision by reaching a consensus. For centuries, jirga participants had to travel over rugged terrain on foot to reach the jirga meeting place.

Although students will not need to physically travel far, they will need to reach a consensus of their own through a jirga on three critical questions:

• Should Canada have intervened in Afghanistan?
• To intervene or to not intervene?
• Should Canada be obliged to intervene when NATO asks it to?

Curriculum connections

This activity was designed as an educational tool for educators teaching Ontario’s Grade 10 history course, Canadian History since World War I. Please read the teachers guide for further information on how the activity meets the curriculum’s course expectations.