“Conflict behavior”: the experience of using an educational game for political science students

The article presents the author’s educational game “Conflict Behavior”, discusses the methodology and results of its usage in teaching political science students. The gam’s goal is to give students an idea of possible strategies for conflict behavior and to develop an understanding of the participants’ and third parties’ roles in a conflict. The development of the game concept is based on K. Boulding’s general theory of conflict and the achievements of game theory (A. Rapoport's recurring “Prisoner’s Dilemma”). During the game, students test the choice of cooperative and non-cooperative strategies of behavior in a conflict, both in the role of direct participants and third (neutral) parties. The educational game provides insight that in the long run, trusting, “forgiving” and cooperative strategies can bring mutual benefits to those involved in the conflict.