This Week at ISN

19 - 23 March 2012 Having concluded Part One of the Editorial Plan we are now playing a little "jazz" to catch our breath and gather our thoughts before we continue, on 2 April, with Part Two of the plan entitled "Shifting Power Dynamics". This week, we examine the growing potential of strategic and digital games to shape international relations.

Games and International Politics

Playing the Game of Diplomacy
23 Mar 2012 / ISN Insights

The US State Department reaches out to audiences abroad with people-to-people contacts and social media. Peter Buxbaum describes how it now wants to measure the effectiveness of these soft-power 'games'. More "War as Game"
22 Mar 2012 / ISN Special Feature

The increasing use of virtual environments as training devices by the world's militaries has many implications for international relations and security. More Building a Better 'Cyber Range'
21 Mar 2012 / ISN Special Feature

In this article, Peter Buxbaum writes about the applications of virtual gaming in the construction of so-called cyber-ranges, where possible cyber-attacks are virtually simulated in order to understand how better to defend against them. More The Virtual Military
20 Mar 2012 / ISN Insights

As the global military technology industry surges forward, both traditional and emerging powers are seeking new innovations in virtual training for the modern battlefield, writes Jody Ray Bennett. More The Power of Gaming
19 Mar 2012 / ISN Special Feature

Can digital games have an impact upon international relations? If so, can they work in tandem with more conventional forms of diplomacy and foreign policy, or do they provide a direct challenge to the relevance of these 'games' in the digital age? These questions and more are explored in this Special Feature. More

Other Topics
Religion in Conflict Transformation: Islamic Communities in the Post 9/11 UK
23 Mar 2012 / ISN Podcast

In part two of this three-part podcast series, Abdulfatah Said Mohamed, former director of an Islamic center in London (UK), discusses his center's experience in conflict transformation after the September 11 attacks. More De-fragmenting Africa
23 Mar 2012 / ISN Insights

In this article, Paul Brenton asserts that Africa trades too little with itself, and argues for an approach that

reforms policies that create non-tariff barriers, allows cross-border movement of services suppliers and builds the institutions that are necessary to allow small producers and traders to access open regional markets. More Security Jam 2012: Make Your Recommendations to the World Leaders!
23 Mar 2012 / ISN Blog

Giorgos Chatzidakis writes on the fifth and final day of the Security Jam, and provides a recap of some of the important points raised by participants during the third and fourth days of the event. More Kony 2012 - How 100 Million Clicks Went to Waste
22 Mar 2012 / ISN Blog

Patrik Wegner writes that despite the oversimplification presented by the Kony 2012 campaign, an intelligent discussion of the impulse it provided could have lead to greater public awareness and pressure towards action. Instead, a simplified message was answered by a smear campaign, and highlights the mass media's shallow method of discussing complex issues. More Libya's Struggle with Federalism
21 Mar 2012 / ISN Blog

Gina Menghini discusses the challenges facing federalism in Libya, and why it remains the best way forward as a form of governance for the country. More Where Does Russia's Opposition Go From Here?
20 Mar 2012 / ISN Blog

Barnaby Phillips writes that with Vladimir Putin's crushing victory in the recent presidential elections, Russia's divided opposition is struggling to adapt and faces a long road ahead. More Are Domestic Factors Relevant in Deciding to Join a Military Coalition?
19 Mar 2012 / ISN Blog

At a CIS colloquium, Atsushi Tago presented research showing how domestic factors play an important role in a country's decision to join a military coalition, writes Andras Horvath. More

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