On Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8, a team of five students from The Institute of World Politics (IWP) participated in an intermediate-level wargame and crisis simulation hosted by American University. The exercise brought together teams representing major global powers, including the United States, China, Russia, India, and Brazil, and tasked participants with addressing open-ended crises using tools of statecraft such as military, diplomacy, and economics.
The IWP team represented Russia and included Godbless Otubure as Prime Minister, Adam Godfrey as Minister of Defense, Alec Bullough as Chief Economist, Joshua McCraw as Diplomat, and Edward Goebel as a Russian citizen. Over the course of the simulation, participants navigated a dynamic series of challenges spanning a simulated year, with four turns representing each season.
Carlos Alatorre, IWP’s team lead and observer, reflected on the value of the experience: “It’s great that we were able to utilize the statecraft tools we learn at IWP to form an integrated strategy, but outside of a classroom setting.”
The simulation provided IWP students with a unique opportunity to apply their education in a competitive and fast-paced environment. The exercise sharpened their skills in strategic thinking, collaboration, and decision-making, preparing them to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and insight.