Next-generation wargames

Reddie, Andrew W.; Goldblum, B. L.; Lakkaraju, Kiran; Reinhardt, Jason Christian; Nacht, Michael; Epifanovskaya, Laura

doi:10.1126/science.aav2135

Cited by 35 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Social scientists have renewed interest in experimental wargaming. (Reddie et al, 2018; Lin-Greenberg, 2020; Schneider, 2017). So, what makes a wargame experimental?…”

Section: Experimentation and Wargamingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This represents a strong belief among many in the wargaming community that the best wargames privilege realism, external validity, and inductive processes over more positivist and internally valid methodologies proffered by modern social science research (Bartels, 2017; Rubel, 2006). However, recent work on the integration of experiments within wargaming suggests wargames can utilize social scientific methods, and prioritizing iteration, control, and generalizability within experimental design can provide new opportunities for wargames (Jensen & Banks, 2018; Lin-Greenberg, 2018; Reddie et al, 2018; Schneider, 2017; Schneider et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wargaming as a Methodology: The International Crisis Wargame and Experimental Wargaming

Schechter

Schneider

Shaffer

2021

Simulation & Gaming

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Background. Wargaming has a long history as a tool for understanding the complexity of conflict. Although wargames have shown their relevance across topics and time, the immersive nature of wargames and the guild-like communities that surround them have often resisted the social scientific advances that occurred alongside the evolution of warfare. However, recent work raises new possibilities for integrating wargaming practices and social scientific methods. Purpose. Develop the experimental wargaming method and practice. Prioritizing the focus on iteration, control, and generalizability within experimental design can provide new opportunities for wargames to answer broader questions about decision-making, crisis behaviors, and patterns of outcomes. Method. The International Crisis Wargame developed in 2018 demonstrates the viability of experimental wargaming, and models the process of theorizing, designing, developing, and executing these wargames. It also identifies what makes games more or less experimental and details how experimental design influenced choices in the game. Conclusion. Experimental wargames are a promising new tool for both the social science and the wargaming communities. A proposed new research agenda for experimental design within wargames would support this nascent method

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“…Social scientists have renewed interest in experimental wargaming. (Reddie et al, 2018; Lin-Greenberg, 2020; Schneider, 2017). So, what makes a wargame experimental?…”

Section: Experimentation and Wargamingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wargaming as a Methodology: The International Crisis Wargame and Experimental Wargaming

Schechter

Schneider

Shaffer

2021

Simulation & Gaming

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“…In the past, previously distributed and asynchronous wargames (i.e., "playby-mail") were possible but awkward outside of restricted military software. The professional wargaming communities are now developing new techniques, methodologies, and platforms for conducting simulations without the need to meet in person (Reddie et al 2018). As the virtual nature of scenarios and games expands, new methodologies may be required to capture both system dynamics and decision-making among participants (and address issues of digital privacy).…”

Section: Environmental Disaster Gamingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embracing the Darkness: Methods for Tackling Uncertainty and Complexity in Environmental Disaster Risks

Matejova

Briggs

2021

Global Environmental Politics

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Environmental systems are complex and often difficult to predict. The interrelationships within such systems can create abrupt changes with lasting impacts, yet they are often overlooked until disasters occur. Mounting environmental and social crises demand the need to better understand both the role and consequences of emerging risks in global environmental politics (GEP). In this research note, we discuss scenarios and simulations as innovative tools that may help GEP scholars identify, assess, and communicate solutions to complex problems and systemic risks. We argue that scenarios and simulations are effective at providing context for interpreting “weak signals.” Applying simulations to research of complex risks also offers opportunities to address otherwise overwhelming uncertainty.

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“…In policy-facing fora, recent articles have made the case for wargaming as a method of inquiry from a practitioner perspective, in particular in the context of nuclear strategy (Pauly 2018; Reddie et al 2018), and it has featured increasingly in defence publications such War on the Rocks (Jones 2016;Lacey 2016Lacey , 2019Pettyjohn and Shlapak 2016;Bartels 2017Bartels , 2018Bae 2018;Jensen, Cuomo and Whyte 2018;Schuety and Will 2018;Lin-Greenberg 2019) and the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (Barzashka 2019a(Barzashka , 2019b. What is currently lacking in the literature, however, is a critical analysis of wargaming as an object of inquiry.…”

Section: The Global Politics Of Gamingmentioning

confidence: 99%