What happens when global actors are asked to pursue their interests in an unpredictable international environment?

During CISS SES in collaboration with ASP, participants were divided into six teams, each representing a key global actor:

• China;
• United States;
• European Union;
• Big Tech;
• Global South;
• United Arab Emirates.

The challenge unfolded across two different scenarios, each requiring participants to rethink their strategies and adapt to new rules.

In the first scenario, teams had to act independently: cooperation was only possible among members of the same group, forcing each actor to rely on its own resources, priorities and strategic choices.

In the second scenario, the dynamics completely changed. Teams were allowed to interact with one another, opening the door to negotiations, agreements and coalitions. Participants had to balance their own objectives with the opportunities — and compromises — created by cooperation.

Throughout the simulation, AI tutors followed the teams’ strategies and decisions. At the end of the War Game, they evaluated their overall performance and determined the final ranking:

• China
• Big Tech
• United States

The War Game offered participants the opportunity to experience first-hand how strategy changes when actors move from independent decision-making to negotiation and coalition-building.