WHO WE ARE
Statecraft Simulations Group (SSG) is an applied research and education initiative focused on the design and facilitation of policy simulations and wargames centered on modern statecraft. Based at William & Mary, SSG explores how governments use economic, political, and institutional tools to compete and cooperate in a complex international system. Through multi-move, seminar-style simulations, the group brings together faculty, students and practitioners to engage in realistic decision-making, test policy assumptions, and develop strategic thinking skills. SSG treats simulation as both a learning method and a research tool, bridging theory and practice through experiential, reflective, and “safe-to-fail” environments.
The Statecraft Simulations Group operates as a faculty-supported, collaborative initiative, bringing together graduate and undergraduate students, educators, and practitioners with diverse backgrounds in international relations, public policy, economics, education, and security studies. Through careful facilitation, rigorous adjudication, and structured reflection, SSG ensures that its simulations function as meaningful tools for learning, analysis, and professional development.
WHAT WE DO
About Us
The Statecraft Simulations Group (SSG) was founded in August 2025 in collaboration with the Robert M. Gates Global Policy Center at William & Mary. The group was created to design, facilitate, and study policy simulations that examine how states exercise power and make decisions in an era defined by strategic competition, economic interdependence, and institutional constraint.
SSG focuses on the tools of modern statecraft—including economic policy, industrial strategy, sanctions, technology governance, alliance coordination, and information dynamics—rather than kinetic military conflict. Our simulations are built to reflect the realities of policymaking: incomplete information, competing priorities, domestic and international constraints, and the cumulative effects of decisions over time.
We develop multi-move, seminar-style simulations that place participants in the roles of real-world actors across governments, alliances, and strategic competitors. These simulations are designed not to produce “right answers,” but to surface tradeoffs, test assumptions, and explore how policy choices interact across political, economic, and institutional domains. Outcomes evolve based on participant decisions, reinforcing the interconnected and path-dependent nature of statecraft.
We also treat simulations as a form of applied research. Games are structured to generate insight into how individuals and teams interpret information, coordinate across institutions, manage risk, and adapt to strategic pressure. This approach allows SSG to contribute to broader conversations about policy design, decision-making, and experiential learning.
Meet Our Team.
The Statecraft Simulations Group is supported by a multidisciplinary team of faculty, staff, and practitioners with expertise in international relations, public policy, economics, education, and security studies. The group also engages undergraduate and post- doctoral students in roles spanning research, game design, facilitation, and adjudication. Together, the SSG team brings academic rigor and practical experience to the design and execution of policy simulations.
