The Serious Role of Gaming at RAND

RAND uses gaming techniques to develop insights into a host of 21st century challenges.

In this Events @ RAND podcast, David Shlapak, codirector of the RAND Center for Gaming, describes a recent series of games examining potential results of a Russian invasion of the Baltics. He discusses the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of using gaming in research.

Featured Speakers

David A. Shlapak

David A. Shlapak

Senior International Research Analyst and Codirector, RAND Center for Gaming, RAND Corporation

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  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates meets with the other NATO Ministers of Defense and of Foreign Affairs

    Rethinking Russia's Threat to NATO

    A series of wargames examined the probable outcome of a Russian invasion of the Baltic states. The wargames showed that a near-term Russian invasion could reach the Estonian and Latvian capitals in less than 60 hours.

    Sep 30, 2016

    David A. Shlapak, Michael Johnson

  • David Shlapak

    Gaming and Public Policy: Q&A with David Shlapak

    David Shlapak discusses how using games in research can help improve decisionmaking across a wide range of areas, including national security, health care, and climate change.

    Aug 11, 2016

  • Globe on a chessboard

    How Can Gaming Help Test Your Theory?

    The act of designing a game will force you to articulate your theory or to be more specific about it. It will also require you to operationalize your variables and theoretical constructs of interest into a specific context, and prompt you to anticipate the ways in which it may play out in that scenario.

    May 18, 2016

    Yuna Huh Wong

  • Map of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

    Wargaming the Defense of the Baltics

    A series of wargames examined the threat Russia may present to the three Baltic republics. As currently postured, NATO could not defend the territory. What might be done to prevent Russia from attempting to reclaim it?

    Feb 1, 2016

    David A. Shlapak, Michael Johnson

  • Members of the 183d Air Operations Group conduct simulated battle operations during exercise Virtual Flag, December 2015

    Getting the Most Out of Your Wargame

    Some famous historical wargames offer a compelling narrative of what wargames can be at their best and worst, but they cannot illustrate the full range of contemporary wargaming that leaders should strive to achieve. A better understanding of how wargames can be helpful — or backfire — is critical.

    Jan 26, 2016

    Elizabeth M. Bartels