Reflection: Risky Business

Our little Risk simulation in class certainly has been interesting to say the least, however I feel our class isn't as dedicated to this game as our Monday-Thursday counterparts (seriously, all yous's talk about is Risk it seems, and how you're going to destroy one another :P).  There seems to be some practicality in our simulation to the relevant issues of world affairs.  One group appears to have their hearts set on maintaining or creating peace, one is concerned with spreading themselves to as many territories as they can, and others I haven't put my finger on yet.

It's interesting to put our game, and the roles of the players in the game, into a real-life context.  I'm part of the global hegemon group, and it's easy to draw similarities between the role our group has acquired and the role the United States plays on the world stage.  However, the United States has, over the years that it has evolved as the global superpower, been an owner of all of the roles that I have witnessed in our simulated Risk game.  We attempt to keep peace in the world, while also not being averse to waging war when necessary.  True, we don't "try" to spread religion around the world, but we certainly don't inhibit our own people in doing so.  This application of real-world issues in a board game give our groups more of an impetus to act the part, and be more wary in starting conflict among ourselves.  However, each group must be wary of the other groups' intentions.  While creating alliances and peace are noble goals, obviously one group is doing it because it is in their best interest to do so, in the name of the game.  This could also be reflected in actual international affairs, as countries are justifiably concerned with perhaps nations providing aid to other nations for no particular reason.  In this, it seems that Risk is an apt portrayal of the realist mindset, as economics aren't discussed, and there are inherent questions that arise with any decision a group makes, even if it's made by a bunch of teenagers.