Countermodel & Equivalent Counter-fiat
Chương 6. Definitions & Opposition Strategy · Part B: Case Building
- Countermodel: An alternative model proposed by the Opposition in a policy debate to solve the problem given by the motion. The debate shifts to evaluating which model (Proposition's vs. Opposition's) provides a better solution.
- Equivalent Counter-fiat: The assumption that the Opposition's countermodel has access to resources equivalent to, but not more than, those used by the Proposition's model. The Opposition cannot implement all of the Proposition's policy and simply add more on top.
- Counter-propping: The term used in BP and AP for offering a countermodel.
- BP (WUDC): the counter-prop must use the same or fewer resources of each relevant type than Government's policy. It need not be strictly mutually exclusive with Government's case if it is set up as an alternative, though Government may accept it as part of their own model (WUDC 2027 Manual, section 2.10 example).
- AP (UADC): an optional alternative introduced only by the Leader of the Opposition, in a policy debate. It must be mutually exclusive with PM's model and changes the comparison from Government versus status quo to Government versus the counter-proposition. Opposition has equivalent fiat and political capital for a policy of equal resources, and can also win by defending the status quo without a counter-proposition.