Event Recap - HKC Crisis Simulation, Arctic Security and the Race for Strategic Advantage
On December 2nd, 2023, students at Johns Hopkins SAIS participated in a half-day exercise that simulated a major US-Russia military crisis in the Arctic region. The event was organized by the Henry Kissinger Center for Global Affairs through Professors Hal Brands and visiting Professor Timothy Nichols from Duke.
Students served in numerous different advisory roles across government to resolve and deescalate the crisis. The simulation required students to immerse themselves in the military, legal, diplomatic, intelligence, and economic realms to diagnose the flash crisis and find a way to meet the President's guidance to de-escalate. They worked to address time-sensitive policy decisions, process and disseminate important information, and achieve interagency coordination. Throughout the exercise, students were exposed to some of the key dynamics that shape US policy in any crisis, such as dealing with imperfect information, cooperating within and across complex bureaucracies, handling escalation risks, and reconciling short-term actions with longer-term objectives.
The event was a successful - 40 graduate students willingly chose to come to school on a Saturday and engage thoughtfully and meaningfully with their colleagues and the Crisis Simulation Control to address the challenges. Students demonstrated their ability to work together effectively and make difficult decisions under pressure. By assuming advisory roles in various government agencies, students gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of national security policymaking. They also had the opportunity to work alongside their peers and develop their leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. Overall, the simulation provided a valuable learning experience for all participants and highlighted the importance of interagency cooperation and effective crisis management in the realm of national security.
We are grateful to Professors Hal Brands and Timothy Nichols for organizing such an engaging and educational event, and we look forward to future opportunities to engage in similar exercises.