This article examines the organization and development of the Mid‐Atlantic European Union Simulation Consortium (MEUSC), with special emphasis on linking theory to practice within its simulation program. The MEUSC program, initiated in 1993, brings fifteen colleges and universities to Washington, D.C., each December for an intercollegiate experiential learning exercise on the European Union. During the simulation, students meet with professional diplomats from both the United States and Europe, and they engage in consensus‐building activities that mirror the decision‐making processes of the EU Commission, Parliament, Council of Ministers, and the European Council. As a result, participants are able to refine and enhance a range of academic and practical skills that are keys for success in today's political and business worlds. The authors of this article make special use of a survey that was undertaken to gauge the impact of the simulation on its participants and, thus, its success as an educational venture.

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New Right political parties are becoming more important in many advanced industrialized societies. Although much has been written about the issues addressed by these parties, little systematic attention has been paid to the elite composition and recruitment patterns of these important political actors. This study attempts to fill that void by examining the elite composition and recruitment pathways of one of these far right parties, the French National Front. Conclusions are drawn about the primacy of the party's current and only president, Jean‐Marie Le Pen, in acting as the “gatekeeper” to party leadership. In addition, this analysis provides important information about the party's future electoral viability.