(Institute of World Politics news release) IWP students and alumni are competing with their counterparts at some of the top academic institutions around the world in Wikistrat’s 2011 International Grand Strategy Competition.
This simulation exercise, which is by invitation only, is taking place throughout June 2011, and is managed by former Pentagon strategist Dr. Thomas P.M. Barnett. IWP is contributing two teams of ten students and alumni to the contest. One, led by John Poreba (Class of 2011), is playing the role of Turkey, while the second, led by M.A. candidate Katie Crombe, is playing as Brazil.
Each country team is expected to generate page entries, based on the Wikistrat model, which will forecast their team’s national trajectory; develop scenario pathways and national policy options for specific strategic issues; articulate national grand strategies; brainstorm future regional security environments (or alternate futures); and simulate plausible scenarios of geopolitical crises. The teams cover various issues, including global energy security, the global economic “rebalancing” process, Salafi jihadist terrorism, the Sino-American relationship, and nuclear proliferation in Southwest Asia. They will also respond to scenario simulations, including a major biological terror attack, “2.0 revolutions” in the Arab world.
The winning team will receive a $10,000 prize.
The IWP teams are working hard, and gaining valuable experience through their extracurricular efforts. Vilen Khlgatyan, an IWP student who has been working on articles about Turkey’s regional future, has found that, “This competition has helped me further ingrain the idea that all facets of statecraft should be considered, as well as the many possible outcomes.”
IWP participants say that they feel well-prepared for the competition, because the exercise is similar to those practiced by students in Dr. Waller’sPublic Diplomacy and Political Warfare and Professor Tsagronis’ Counterinsurgency and National Security Policy Process courses.
Student Katie Crombe comments,
“Simulation exercises in Professors Tsagronis’ classes were incredibly beneficial in learning how to develop and write a coherent national strategy. Our team members believe we are well prepared to answer the strategic problems posed by the judges in the Wikistrat competition.”
And recent graduate Gabriella Gervasio observes, “The Wikistrat exercise is truly the perfect ending to my education here at IWP. It requires knowledge, expertise, and proper use of the elements of statecraft.”
Go IWP Teams!!
WikiStrat is an organization that provides interdisciplinary strategic analysis and forecasting, showcasing the opportunities of globalization’s advance whilst managing geopolitical risk.