International Relations Simulation Lab
The Only AI-Proof Laboratory for International Relations.
Automate lab-scale instruction for high-enrollment sections while securing assessments against Generative AI. Move from textbook-only coverage to a measurable, simulation-first research workflow.
Assessments That Cannot Be Googled.
Each section generates a unique history. LLMs like ChatGPT can't analyze events that never existed in their training data—so the evidence is inherently original.
International relations are shaped by a complex interplay of power, institutions, and norms. States pursue security in an anarchic system, balancing deterrence and cooperation to maximize national interests while managing uncertainty…
Turn 0 → Turn 8, mapped to the Big Three textbooks.
A structured 14-week map that aligns simulation turns to Frieden, Baylis, and Mingst so faculty can see immediate course fit.
| Turn | Weeks | Core focus | Frieden (textbook) | Baylis (textbook) | Mingst (textbook) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turn 0 | Weeks 1–2 | Foundations & levels of analysis FriedenBaylisMingst | Globalization + IPE foundations | IR intro + security overview | Scope of IR + key concepts |
| Turn 1 | Weeks 3–4 | Security dilemma & deterrence FriedenBaylisMingst | Economic statecraft leverage | Security dilemma + deterrence | Realism + anarchy |
| Turn 2 | Weeks 4–5 | Arms races & crisis bargaining FriedenBaylisMingst | Sanctions + bargaining tools | Alliances + escalation | War & bargaining problems |
| Turn 3 | Weeks 6–7 | Institutions & international law FriedenBaylisMingst | Coordination + compliance | International institutions | Law, IOs, cooperation |
| Turn 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Trade interdependence & sanctions FriedenBaylisMingst | Trade + finance + interdependence | Economic security | IPE foundations |
| Turn 5 | Weeks 9–10 | Norms, identity, legitimacy FriedenBaylisMingst | Domestic winners/losers | Constructivism & norms | Identity shaping interests |
| Turn 6 | Weeks 10–11 | IPE & trade wars FriedenBaylisMingst | Trade wars + coercive leverage | Coercive diplomacy | Political economy & globalization |
| Turn 7 | Weeks 12–13 | Globalization & transnational risk FriedenBaylisMingst | Supply chains + interdependence | Global governance challenges | Transnational issues |
| Turn 8 | Week 14 | Capstone: global shock FriedenBaylisMingst | Crisis coordination | Collective action | Global problems & cooperation |
Live Empirical Evidence: The Self-Sustaining Classroom.
Observe how active learning scales to 300+ students without increasing instructor intervention. This is where your students generate the unique, AI-proof datasets they will analyze in their research papers.
In this laboratory model, the professor is not a lecturer or a game master. You are the Principal Investigator, observing a self-correcting system that automates the logistics of active learning while you focus on high-level theoretical debriefs.
Scholarly Validation: Peer-Reviewed Efficacy.
Statecraft is a validated pedagogical instrument proven to enhance academic integrity and student performance in the IR classroom.
John Linantud (2019)
Research confirms that Statecraft's unique "butterfly effect" makes assignments virtually plagiarism-proof. In a multi-year study, only 2–3 students out of hundreds attempted plagiarism—a near-perfect honesty rate.
97% of students recommend Statecraft for future courses, noting increased confidence and a proactive desire to analyze their own simulation data in formal essays.
Jennifer Epley Sanders (2016)
Data indicates successful performance on course assessments and deep conceptual retention when Statecraft is utilized alongside traditional IR lectures.
From Lab to Library: Simulation as Case Study.
Move beyond multiple-choice. Enable your students to treat the simulation as a primary dataset for formal research papers.
A built-in case study generator. Students export turn-by-turn global stats and build scatterplots/correlation graphs (e.g., Global Terror Index vs. Democracy Count) for evidence-based term papers.
Placeholder visualization—live charts pull directly from each section's dataset.
The Collective Action Problem, Simulated.
Move the problem from abstract theory to observable behavior. Students confront the gap between individually rational choices and globally inefficient outcomes in real time.
Every Student Leaves with Interview-Ready Leadership Stories.
Behavioral interviews ask "Tell me about a time you led a team under pressure." Statecraft gives every student 3–5 concrete, data-backed answers — not hypotheticals, but real decisions with measurable outcomes.
"I led a 6-nation alliance through a nuclear crisis. I had to balance trust, transparency, and competing interests to hold the coalition together under real pressure."
"I negotiated a trade agreement between adversarial states with conflicting economic incentives — and had to make concessions without losing my coalition's support."
"I had to allocate a shrinking budget across military defense, diplomatic investment, and domestic approval — knowing every dollar had a measurable tradeoff."
"A global shock hit mid-simulation. I had 48 hours to coordinate a collective response across 8 countries while managing internal dissent from my own cabinet."
Students don't just learn theory — they practice the leadership, negotiation, and strategic reasoning that top employers and admissions committees actively screen for.
Our support team provides verification references so students can list their simulation leadership roles on resumes and applications with a credible point of contact. Employers and admissions offices can confirm the experience directly.
Prove the syllabus fit—concept by concept.
Select a canon topic on the left. On the right: the specific Statecraft mechanic that automates the concept into a dataset you can grade.
The Narrative & Norms module tracks Legitimacy Points and Soft Power, showing how norms constrain behavior beyond material power.
Automating the Security Dilemma
Students experience the “panic” of a self-help system where defensive moves are misread as aggression.
Mechanic: “Spy Reports & Arms Races.” As noted in Lecture #4, arms buildups are visible to rivals, provoking fear and counter-balancing. Students feel the visceral reality of the Security Dilemma.
Students experience the “panic” of a self-help system where defensive moves are misread as aggression.
Mechanic: “Spy Reports & Arms Races.” As noted in Lecture #4, arms buildups are visible to rivals, provoking fear and counter-balancing. Students feel the visceral reality of the Security Dilemma.
Open the Fall 2025-2026 Syllabus Integration Kit.
The complete 14-week map aligning turns 0–8 to Frieden, Baylis, and Mingst—plus grading prompts and TA implementation notes.
2025–2026
Inject the news cycle into the simulation.
Keep sections relevant with “scenario injections” that transform real-world events into assessable simulation shocks.
We Automate the Logistics. You Teach the Theory.
This kit makes the simulation runnable, repeatable, and low-drama for every section.
Grade 50 policy memos in under 60 minutes with structured rubrics and evidence-first prompts.
Ten-minute, pre-written debriefs that translate sim outcomes into theory takeaways.
Protocols that maintain simulation continuity even with fluctuating enrollment, dropped students, or stalled negotiations.
CHINA'S MILITARY DRILLS SIGNAL CLASSIC SECURITY DILEMMA
China launched 'Joint Sword-2024A' military exercises surrounding Taiwan this week, framing the mobilization as punishment for 'separatist acts' following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te. This escalation perfectly illustrates the Security Dilemma, as Beijing interprets political signaling as an offensive threat, triggering a militarized response that rationalizes mutual mistrust and further destabilizes the status quo. Statecraft Move: In your simulation groups today, interpret an opponent’s buildup as defensive or offensive; choose deterrence vs reassurance and predict the second-order response. https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-drills-lai-inauguration-22d77cb366eeb74249a5b3a1a5b82888