The Breakdown of Diplomatic Risk

This last week, we spent the class time playing Diplomatic Risk. It is safe to say that my reserved expectations for the game were completely blown out of the park. Initially side B, set up an unofficial united alliance against the Red teams Hegemon, to bring all the parties to back down to an even playing field. The lull of logistics and formalities in the first days of playing were made up by the exciting and course- changing revelations of “secret powers” as well as, backroom deals occurring to trade territory. As the Green team, our mission was to overtake 12 territories with 2 or more armies hosting each. We were quickly able to succeed through our neutral standings and alliances with the other teams against the Hegemon. As the initial ‘weaker’ team, we were able to avoid declarations of war against us, that fully aided in our ultimate and speedy success.

It was interesting to see how quickly the Hegemon team crumbled. The Red team also did not attempt in making alliances with many other teams, this may show how power misleads individuals into believing they do not need to join forces with any other powers. When the other three teams joined together, we did not foresee just how quickly the Red “empire” would lose power. What truly brought them down was the division of their team to split into Yellow, taking half of the territory and money. The attempts at diplomacy between the newly forming Yellow team and the remaining Red showed just how important negotiations were in this game.

Only after the game had finalized that I found out the Black team had no intent on holding up their side of the deal with forfeiting Egypt in exchange for New Guinea. Although our Green team was still successful in our conquest, this fact made me realize the true extent of how trust can be manipulated in search of power and victory. Looking back, I see how the Green team did not have to alliance with the Black team as at that point in the game, we had already gained most of our territories. I feel that we allied a way to avoid war and keep our team and territories safe from conquest.

Overall, I am looking forward to seeing how the skills viewed throughout playing Diplomatic Risk can be applied to general world politics. I already feel I have a better idea of how to not only play Risk but many qualities that are important in diplomacy and how power clouds judgment.