International Relations

One-day simulations

Experience the intricacies of international conflict

For groups of up to 25 participants, our one-day conflict simulations provide participants with the opportunity to experience the complexity of a particular international political conflict. In our conflict-simulations participants take on the roles of world leaders and engage in high level decision-making and diplomatic processes. Participants are challenged to practice individual skills, such as adaptability, resilience and analytical capabilities. Our conflict simulations are facilitated by a multidisciplinary team of experts in International Relations and utilize our InterACT software.

Learning objectives
Our conflict simulations enable participants to:

  • Gain in-depth knowledge about pressing international and regional issues affecting world politics
  • Create a better understanding of diplomatic realities and political impasse
  • Discover the structure of conflict and potential resolution modalities
  • Practise conflict resolution techniques in a safe learning environment
  • Experience the complexity of information asymmetry
  • Improve negotiations and mediation skills

The benefits of integrating a one-day simulation in your educational programmes

Our "off the shelf" conflict simulations enable you to bring your educational programmes to the next level. It allows you to provide participants - policy-makers, students and public officials - with a memorable experience in which the subject matter of your training programmes comes to life. Using our InterACT methodology, Pax Ludens is able to create an effective learning environment specifically developed for in-depth analysis in accordance with set learning objectives.

Case studies:

  • The Greater Middle East: Ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza, a seeming nuclear threat from Iran and political instability in Lebanon are reshaping the region's political landscape in 2011. It is important to take into consideration certain political factors that currently help shape policy. Islamic militancy, human rights violations, terrorism, water scarcity, and the abundance of oil all have grave impacts on the region and beyond.
    Key themes:
    - The Arab/Israeli conflict;
    - Nuclear proliferation in the Middle East;
    - The rise of non-state actors;
    - Terrorism;
    - Border demarcation issues; and,
    - Political Islam.
  • The Politics of Nuclear Proliferation: Today, the question of nuclear proliferation has topped the political agendas of the major powers. The limitations of the current international anti-proliferation regime have been known for a while. The prospect of a nuclear Middle East and ongoing hostilities between rivaling nuclear powers in Asia presents Western Powers with the ultimate nightmare scenario.
    Key themes:
    - Nuclear proliferation and containment;
    - Security in a multipolar world;
    - Iranian politics;
    - Fundamentalism and regional implications;
    - (Energy) geo-politics;
    - Issues of Pakistan and energy security in China;
    - Rise of China and a newly assertive Russia; and,
    - The role of international organisations in an anarchic environment.
  • The Caucasus region: a cross-road of history and economics. In recent years the Caucasus has increasingly come to the attention of all major powers, who each aim to a) secure their energy needs, through diversification of energy supply; and b) establish new trading routes with Asia. In a time when the world economy has been hit hard, both East and West look to the Caucasus for answers.One of the most linguistically and culturally diverse regions on earth, stability in the Caucasus is a complex exercise of checks and balances which give the region an unprecedented taste of danger and opportunity. While all major actors agree that stability in the region is key to securing pipelines, recent history has shown that the major powers act differently.
    Key themes:
    - Oil politics, Energy security and the resource curse;
    - Low-intensity conflict and the struggle for self-determination;
    - (Critical) geo-politics;
    - Modernization theory and sequential industrialization;
    - Regionalism, interdependence theory and (neo-)liberalism; and,
    - NATO expansion.

Past experiences:

Our one-day simulations are used at a variety of educational institutions and think-tanks, among which:

  • The Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael: where our simulation are integrated in an eight-day course on International Security for Dutch policy-makers from the security sector.
  • The University of Antwerp: where our one-day GME simulation is used to teach graduate students about diplomatic conduct
  • Webster University: where our simulations enable (under-)graduate students to experience international relations

Our conflict-simulations are tried and tested, saving you time and costs in regards of development and execution. Pax Ludens has all the in-house expertise and (ICT) capabilities to facilitate all aspects of the simulation.

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