This International Relations Game is designed as a teaching tool. It helps students understand the dynamics of cooperation, competition, and conflict in the international system.
What You Can Learn from This Game
The International Relations Game is not only about distributing points – it is a
simplified simulation of how states behave in the international system.
By playing, you can experience and reflect on different theories and concepts in International Relations.
1. The State as the Key Actor
Each player represents a state, making choices under conditions of scarcity.
This highlights state-centric decision-making and the role of power distribution in global politics.
2. Competing Theories of International Relations
Realism / Neorealism: Security dilemmas, balance of power, and the drive for survival in an anarchic system.
Liberalism: How cooperation can create win–win outcomes, especially when institutions and reciprocity exist.
Constructivism: The importance of identities, perceptions, and norms in shaping cooperation and conflict.
English School: The idea of an “international society” where states share common rules and institutions.
Critical Approaches: How inequality, dependency, or gendered logics influence global dynamics.
3. Game Theory in Practice
Prisoner’s Dilemma: The temptation to defect vs. the gains from mutual cooperation.
Stag Hunt: The risk of cooperation and the need for coordination to achieve greater benefits.
Repeated Interaction: How trust (or mistrust) builds across multiple turns.
4. Dynamics of International Politics
Balance of power: Strong players push others to ally or resist.
Security dilemma: More defense by one state can be seen as a threat by others.
Alliance formation: Reciprocity in cooperation mimics alliances and coalitions.
Collective action problems: Shared issues like the environment need joint contributions.
Path dependence: Early decisions influence future opportunities and vulnerabilities.
5. Classroom Applications
Professors can use the game to spark discussions on power, cooperation, conflict, negotiation, and institution-building.
By comparing players’ strategies with real-world cases, students can better understand both
classical theories and contemporary challenges in International Relations.
