The Patterson School has run various types of policy simulations for over a decade. In conjunction with the Army War College, we have run diplomatic negotiations exercises that have centered on conflict in the Caucasus (specifically Nagorno-Karabakh), the longstanding Cyprus problem, and the now-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Crisis simulations - run in conjunction with students from the School of Journalism -- have run the gamut from countering piracy off Somalia and hostage taking to probing how the US might handle the diplomatic fallout created by an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities or cybersecurity. Students both participate in the simulations and take a hand in creating them.
Simulations and Wargaming
US Army War College ISCNE Scenarios
Every October the Patterson School hosts the Army War College's International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise, a group of scenarios enabling students to play parts from several different nations involved in long-running disputes in different parts of the world. The Army War College provides the grist for the simulation, including extensive documentation of the conflict and a timeline that projected into the near future. Patterson students studied this material, then played roles associated with diplomatic teams from each of seven concerned countries. Hosting the simulation has been a tradition at the Patterson School for more than a decade.
I am an editorial aside!
Since 2003 the Patterson School has held its Spring Crisis Simulation in late February. . The Spring Crisis Simulation is developed and managed by Patterson School students and alumni under the supervision of faculty. Scenarios vary widely but have included nuclear weapons handling in North Korea, disaster response off Syria, and a border crisis between Venezuela and Columbia. The simulation takes a full day, and in the past several years has included UK ROTC and the UK School of Journalism.