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[matthewray15]

The Coming Fire?

The events following World War II were filled with tension, as humanity faced an existential threat of nuclear annihilation. The bloody years of the first half of the 20th century merely set the table for the larger conflict that followed. The map was divided up, the board was set, and the pieces began to move. It took the brilliant minds of countless great people to keep humanity from going past the precipice of extinction and war. Now, it appears our Statecraft world approaches a similar abyss, with only a handful of 18 year-olds to turn the ship around. 

It’s safe to say that our world’s World War II is coming to a close. Soon the remnants of Country 5 will be divided up between the three strongest nations. As this conflict ends, the tension builds for the coming of a second. The newfound military power of Hogwarts, Valhalla, and the Isle of Kelks leaves the allies fearful of one another. In truth, Hogwarts and the Isle of Kelks are fearful of Valhalla, the only nuclear capable country. The power of nuclear weapons, in both the real and simulated world, provides for an untouchable defense and opens the gateway to various other strategic moves. Nuclear weapons, however, are better just to have around than they are in use (I hope no one else reads this). As stated, they provide an excellent shield, as anyone who threatens the nuclear nation runs the risk of getting blown up. If the nuclear nation, however, were to launch said nuclear weapon for no justifiable reason, then it would provoke its enemies and unite them against it. 

Now that I think about this, our Statecraft world is more like the Middle-East than it is the world of the 20th Century. Different factions, recognized states, terrorist organizations, and religious sects, all compete for control over their corner of the universe. The leaders of these factions, are not the rational minds of European, American, or even Russian leaders that kept the Cold War cold. Now, one faction, let’s say a future-version of Iran, has nuclear weapons. What comes next is an arms race that, coupled with the fanaticism and animosity of the region’s inhabitants, will lead to the inevitable detonation of one, then many nuclear weapons. Fortunately for our Statecraft world, the game ends soon. The real world, however, is going to keep spinning and someone is going to have to face our next existential crisis. 

[matthewray15]

History Repeats Itself?

At the end of the 1970 film, Tora! Tora! Tora!, portraying the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto laments: “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” Just as Admiral Yamamoto foretold, the United States’ entrance into World War II marked the beginning of the end for Japan and the Axis powers. The war led to the deaths of millions, exhaustion of natural resources, near collapse of the Japanese economy, and the annihilation of two cities. When Country 5 decided to invade two countries at the same time, it doomed itself to a fate akin to that of Japan and Germany in World War II. 

It has been made known that Country 5 had been amassing an army since the first turn. It underwent a military build-up similar to that of Japan and Germany in the years leading up to the Second World War. Surely enough, they unleashed their forces upon their northern neighbors. Their onslaught nearly wiped out one country and severely crippled another. Unfortunately for Country 5, their actions have provoked retaliation from three of the most powerful nations on the map. They awoke the sleeping giant. 

Hogwarts has halted Country 5′s advance north and liberated the conquered cities. The Isle of Kelks has seized their capital. Now, the second, and strongest, wave approaches from Valhalla along with a nuclear fire that will turn the surface of Country 5 to glass. With their armies decimated, resources exhausted, and under threat of being wiped off the map, Country 5 could have used an Isoroku Yamamoto. 

[matthewray15]

It’s Only Natural?

Humanity’s choices have been driven by survival and the quest for more resources since its conception. The sole purpose of conquest and empire have been to get more land and riches. The purpose of government is to obtain these things and facilitate conquest in an organized fashion.

Since each country in Statecraft starts as a barbarian tribe that doesn’t know how to farm, the immediate problem is developing the required technology to produce sufficient resources for survival. knowing the characters in the classroom, this process quickly becomes a race. The threat of attack is a constant in the political equation. Each country is basically at DEFCON 3 for the entirety of the game. This, however, does not mean that some nations can’t work together. in fact, cooperation is a necessity as no country produces an adequate amount of resources for survival on its own. For example, Joshua’s nation has a lot of oil. James’ country has a lot of many resources. Fritsche and I produce a lot of Scientific Knowledge. The natural thing to do was to form an alliance to mend each other’s deficiencies. The game goes well for us.

I like to think that some of us know how to play the game of conquest and survival better than others. In the end, those with the most knowledge will be the most successful and come out on top against the State of Nature.

[matthewray15]

Maybe she was born with it, Maybe it's _____?

the fact that Lady Liberty can maximize the potential of her citizens to create a technologically and industrially superior civilization. 

The United States is the most powerful nation on Earth. It is the best. This did not happen on accident. Many factors and events led to this reality. One of these is the success of its system of government.

While the proper term is Republic, "Democracy" is the term Statecraft uses to denote its "power to the people" government. Democracies start with bonuses to education and research. They are equipped with abilities to get an early lead on the tech-tree. The technology rush can kickstart industrial and military capabilities as well. All these attributes put democracies in a very strong position right off the bat.

Even though its a game, democracies are also good from a moral standpoint. While its not a feature in the game, just imagine the citizens are happier with a good education and the franchise. They're not getting run over by tanks or getting shot when they try to leave the country. Claiming the moral righteousness some strategic avenues as well. How ironic would it be for a military dictatorship to advocate for anti-slavery?

Having a democracy also allows me to say to my classmates: Robert and I are the only ones who can stop Ice Mountain from melting, so you better do what we say.

[matthewray15]

Like Sheep to the Slaughter?

In 1897, Kaiser Wilhelm II, the emperor of Germany, decided to build a navy. In an era when the British Royal Navy was the most powerful fleet in the world, the Kaiser's decision was unadvisable, to say the least. Tension mounted and Germany and Great Britain became locked in an industrial arms race for the more powerful battleship. The conflict came to a head with the outbreak of World War I. The culmination of a century of industrialization was unleashed. The Great War led to the deaths of millions and the devastation of Europe. The consequences of Kaiser Wilhelm II's decisions make his foreign policy one of the worst in human history. 

In a few days, my classmates and I will begin playing Statecraft, an international relations simulation. We have to work with each other to develop both our countries and the world. With a complicated rule-book and knowing the different personalities in the class, we will be faced with complex and dangerous situations from the start. With most of us having no experience in foreign affairs and the world-wide effects of a single decision, I wonder if we go like sheep to the slaughterhouse. In a world where one bad decision can lead to catastrophe for our nations, I'm glad it's a simulation.