Shall We Play a Game? The Promise (and Pitfalls) of Wargames for Policy

Published May 31, 2023

Wargames—interactive events with human players immersed in scenarios and bound by rules—have a long history of influencing policy and are becoming increasingly prevalent. They are used not only for military purposes but also to simulate natural disasters, assess economic cooperation, and study political phenomena. The Hoover Institution aims to enhance wargaming as a policy-making tool by creating an open-source archive of wargames, conducting games on significant policy issues, and providing resources for educational purposes.

Discussion Questions:

1. What makes a good wargame, and how can it provide valuable insights for policy makers?
2. How should policy makers assess and use wargaming data to inform their decision-making process?

Additional resources:

• Read “Wargaming for International Relations Research,” by Erik Lin-Greenberg, Reid B.C. Pauly, and Jacquelyn G. Schneider via European Journal of International Relations. Available here.
• Watch “How Dangerous Are Cyberattacks?” with Jacquelyn Schneider on PolicyEd. Available here.
• Read “Does Technology Win Wars?” by Jacquelyn Schneider via Foreign Affairs. Available here.