The newly established Strategic Studies Wargaming Club hosted its debut gaming session this week. Set during the Cold War, the game, "Twilight Struggle," covers a vast array of historical happenings, from the Arab-Israeli conflicts of 1948 and 1967 to Vietnam and the U.S. peace movement to the Cuban Missile Crisis and other such incidents that brought the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation. Subsystems capture the prestige-laden Space Race and nuclear tensions, with the possibility of game-ending nuclear war.
PIR under and postgraduate students enjoyed an intense but highly rewarding gaming experience, which tested their skills in diplomacy, strategic thinking, teamwork under pressure, and consensus-decision-making.
After three phases of play spanning more than four decades and on the brink of nuclear war, the Soviet team pulled off a stunning volte-face victory. The game concluded in a friendly fashion, with the Red team sharing the victory spoils (chocolate coins) with the losing team.
The next game will be held after the Spring Break and invitations will be going out to students mid-March.
Spots on the game are limited, please email James Johnson if you are interested.
Happy gaming!
