Golden Age of Piracy

JCC: Pirates V Imperials

The Committee: This JCC is divided into two groups: The Pirates and The Imperialists, forming the larger Golden Age of Piracy committee set in 1716, in the broader post-Spanish Succession war era. Both sides debate tensions surrounding piracy during this tumultuous period, with a starting focus on the location of the secret pirate haven. Many pirates, once privateers during the War of Spanish Succession, turned to full-fledged piracy after the war left them unemployed. Meanwhile, the Imperialists struggle to reassert control over their colonies and trade routes, with their navies stretched thin from the war. They are determined to eradicate piracy, viewing it as a threat to their economic and political dominance in the New World, especially as they seek to uncover the pirates' secret haven. Additionally, imperialist powers face competition and negative sentiment among themselves.

The Topic: The pirates have established a secret haven and the imperialists are determined to find it. For pirates, the key debate will focus on strategies to avoid imperialist crackdowns and protect the haven. Pirates will also address internal issues, such as resource scarcity, natural disasters, and disease, claiming many lives in the haven. Additionally, pirates will need to find ways to maintain internal unity, given that the nature of piracy is inherently selfish and individualistic. Imperialist delegates, on the other hand, must address the challenges of creating a unified response to combat piracy and locating the new pirate haven amidst ongoing national tensions and limited resources following the War of Spanish Succession. Many powers prioritize national interests over collective action, allowing pirates to manipulate inconsistencies. Further, the geographical position of the haven makes it difficult for the imperialists to send navy ships, as it is in shallow waters. They will discuss how to launch and fund anti-piracy efforts, allocate personnel, and combat corruption among officials that undermine anti-piracy measures. Both sides will be challenged to handle betrayals and leverage intelligence effectively. For pirates, the central debate will involve deciding how to deal with defectors, as maintaining loyalty within the pirate ranks is difficult. Pirates who are discontented or see a better opportunity may choose to switch sides and provide imperialists with valuable intelligence about pirate activities and the location of their base. Moreover, corruption plagues imperialist ranks, as some officials have been bribed or coerced into shielding pirates from detection.