Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science, McGill University. Middle East politics, peacebuilding, humanitarian response, urban warfare, intelligence, serious games. https://paxsims.wordpress.com/
Political science
57%
Sociology
39%
Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Rex Brynen, Mark Rice , and 2 more Brendan Nyhan, Rex Brynen, Mark Rice, Prokla Redaktion, Dan Immergluck
Masked ICE agents put damper on Oak Park Girl Scout food drive: ‘It’s heartbreaking as a mom’
Federal immigration agents were confronted in Oak Park on Saturday morning by residents blowing whistles as local Girl Scouts collect food for local pantries, rattling some girls and their parents.
chicago.suntimes.com
Girl Scouts in a Chicago Suburb hosted a food drive. But the girls encountered masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with weapons.
"ICE turned it into a scary and what felt like an unsafe environment for us to be out with these kids"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
"ICE turned it into a scary and what felt like an unsafe environment for us to be out with these kids"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Dorothy Bishop, Steve Peers, Andrew Scott , and 3 more Dorothy Bishop, Steve Peers, Andrew Scott, Lesley A. Hall, Rex Brynen, Ben Rosamond
It blows my mind that there are real people who see a post like this and actually believe the whole “Christmas is being cancelled by Muslims” BS 🙄
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
94th MORS Symposium
Registration is now open for the Military Operations Research Society’s 94th Symposium: Sharpening Our Analytical Edge, taking place 8–11 June 2026 in Colorado Springs.
paxsims.wordpress.com
94th MORS Symposium
Registration is now open for the Military Operations Research Society’s 94th Symposium: Sharpening Our Analytical Edge, taking place 8–11 June 2026 in Colorado Springs.
Registration is now open for the Military Operations Research Society’s 94th Symposium: Sharpening Our Analytical Edge, taking place 8–11 June 2026 in Colorado Springs.
Simulation & Gaming (December 2025)
The latest issue of Simulation & Gaming 56, 6 (December 2025) is now available. Editorial Leveraging Gamification to Foster Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare Marlies P. Schijven and Toshiko Kikkawa Research Articles An Innovative Approach to Addressing Compassion Fatigue: A Feasibility Study of a Serious Game Barbara H. Esbjørn, Freja Moltke-Aaen, Kerry A. Schwanz and Melissa Paiva-SalisburyBehavioral and Physiological Stress Reactions During Exposure to a Tsunami in Virtual Reality …
paxsims.wordpress.com
Simulation & Gaming (December 2025)
The latest issue of Simulation & Gaming 56, 6 (December 2025) is now available. Editorial Leveraging Gamification to Foster Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare Marlies P. Schijven and Toshiko Kikkawa Research Articles An Innovative Approach to Addressing…
The latest issue of Simulation & Gaming 56, 6 (December 2025) is now available. Editorial Leveraging Gamification to Foster Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare Marlies P. Schijven and Toshiko Kikkawa Research Articles An Innovative Approach to Addressing…
CEASEFIRE! peace game launch (November 7)
From Rebecca Sutton (University of Glasgow): Please join us for a launch event that is taking place at 2 pm GMT on Friday 7 November 2025, both online and in-person at the University of Glasgow. We will be launching the CEASEFIRE! peace game, which is a 2D video game that teaches international law and emotions in the context of a 'Back to School' ceasefire negotiation with a non-state armed group.
paxsims.wordpress.com
CEASEFIRE! peace game launch (November 7)
From Rebecca Sutton (University of Glasgow): Please join us for a launch event that is taking place at 2 pm GMT on Friday 7 November 2025, both online and in-person at the University of Glasgow. We will be launching the CEASEFIRE! peace game, which is a 2D…
From Rebecca Sutton (University of Glasgow): Please join us for a launch event that is taking place at 2 pm GMT on Friday 7 November 2025, both online and in-person at the University of Glasgow. We will be launching the CEASEFIRE! peace game, which is a 2D…
Wargaming in China: The Coming Wave
The following article was written for PAXsims by Louis “Cornell” Fuka. He is the lead wargame designer and analyst at SURVICE Engineering, specializing in developing educational and digital wargames. Previously, he served as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army. The views expressed here are his own and not those of SURVICE Engineering or any of its clients. The Coming Wave…
paxsims.wordpress.com
Wargaming in China: The Coming Wave
The following article was written for PAXsims by Louis “Cornell” Fuka. He is the lead wargame designer and analyst at SURVICE Engineering, specializing in developing educational and digital wargames. Previously, he served as an artillery officer in the U.S.…
The following article was written for PAXsims by Louis “Cornell” Fuka. He is the lead wargame designer and analyst at SURVICE Engineering, specializing in developing educational and digital wargames. Previously, he served as an artillery officer in the U.S.…
Wargames 24 video reports on “Wargaming as an Analytical and Training Tool in Military and Civilian Environments” conference
On October 14–15, 2025, the Polish Military University of Land Forces organized a conference on "Wargaming as an Analytical and Training Tool in Military and Civilian Environments," bringing together experts from Poland, Europe, and the United States. The YouTube channel Wargames24 has posted a series of videos on conference.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Wargames 24 video reports on “Wargaming as an Analytical and Training Tool in Military and Civilian Environments” conference
On October 14–15, 2025, the Polish Military University of Land Forces organized a conference on "Wargaming as an Analytical and Training Tool in Military and Civilian…
On October 14–15, 2025, the Polish Military University of Land Forces organized a conference on "Wargaming as an Analytical and Training Tool in Military and Civilian…
Emergent Approaches to Combined Arms Manoeuvre in Ukraine (and wargaming)
SOURCE: Watling, Emergent Approaches to Combined Arms Manoeuvre in Ukraine (RUSI, 2023). As we noted back in December 2023, many Ukrainian officers have not found wargaming to be especially useful for operational planning—and in some cases, have even regarded it as counter-productive. This critique gained momentum after the failure of Ukraine’s 2023 offensive, which some Ukrainians attributed to NATO advisors’ reliance on outdated combat models and their failure to fully appreciate how modern warfare had evolved.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Emergent Approaches to Combined Arms Manoeuvre in Ukraine (and wargaming)
SOURCE: Watling, Emergent Approaches to Combined Arms Manoeuvre in Ukraine (RUSI, 2023). As we noted back in December 2023, many Ukrainian officers have not found wargaming to be especially useful for operational…
SOURCE: Watling, Emergent Approaches to Combined Arms Manoeuvre in Ukraine (RUSI, 2023). As we noted back in December 2023, many Ukrainian officers have not found wargaming to be especially useful for operational…
Perun on a NATO ACT cross-domain command wargame
On his YouTube channel, Australian military commentator Perun describes a recent NATO ACT wargame in which he took part. He includes some excellent comments on the strength and weaknesses of the game, so it is well worth a watch.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Perun on a NATO ACT cross-domain command wargame
On his YouTube channel, Australian military commentator Perun describes a recent NATO ACT wargame in which he took part. He includes some excellent comments on the strength and weaknesses of the game, so it is well worth a watch.
On his YouTube channel, Australian military commentator Perun describes a recent NATO ACT wargame in which he took part. He includes some excellent comments on the strength and weaknesses of the game, so it is well worth a watch.
Reposted by Rex Brynen
Trump Considers Overhaul of Refugee System That Would Favor White People
www.nytimes.com
Only whites need to apply ... "Trump Considers Overhaul of Refugee System That Would Favor White People" www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
Reposted by Rex Brynen, Jacob T. Levy
McGill PoliSci
@mcgillpolisci.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Registration is open for the inaugural conference for the Diamond-Brown Chair in Democratic Studies!
"From Democratic Resilience to Recession: Global and Canadian Perspectives on Authoritarian Backsliding."
alumni.mcgill.ca/aoc/events-t...
"From Democratic Resilience to Recession: Global and Canadian Perspectives on Authoritarian Backsliding."
alumni.mcgill.ca/aoc/events-t...
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Agreed (this came up in my seminar today too).
Reposted by Rex Brynen
Social Media Lab
@socialmedialab.ca
· Sep 25
Digital Literacy Games – deepfakestracker.org
Digital Literacy Games – A curated list of educational games to test your ability to identify deepfakes and develop digital literacy skills. Creating Disinformation Games Cat Park Players are challen...
deepfakestracker.org
If you are an educator, here's our curated list of educational games to help improve your students' ability to identify deepfakes and develop digital literacy skills. deepfakestracker.org/digital-lite... More games will be added later this fall.
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Sep 23
Aggro-Cultural Warfare
The following article was written for PAXsims by Kristen Bishop, a Research Staff Member for the Strategy, Forces and Resources Division at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). She received a Ph.D. in Plant Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before the passage of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention, anti-agricultural biological weapons were a key component of the U.S.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Aggro-Cultural Warfare
The following article was written for PAXsims by Kristen Bishop, a Research Staff Member for the Strategy, Forces and Resources Division at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). She received a Ph.D. in Plant Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.…
The following article was written for PAXsims by Kristen Bishop, a Research Staff Member for the Strategy, Forces and Resources Division at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). She received a Ph.D. in Plant Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Sep 21
Connections Oz 2025
The Connections Oz professional wargaming conference will take place online on 12-13 November 2025. For more information, or if you would like to propose a presentation, visit the website above.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Connections Oz 2025
The Connections Oz professional wargaming conference will take place online on 12-13 November 2025. For more information, or if you would like to propose a presentation, visit the website above.
The Connections Oz professional wargaming conference will take place online on 12-13 November 2025. For more information, or if you would like to propose a presentation, visit the website above.
Reposted by Rex Brynen
McGill PoliSci
@mcgillpolisci.bsky.social
· Sep 19
CNN Academy is sending journalists to Brynania, a fictional country created at McGill - McGill Reporter
Learning simulation, invented by Professor Rex Brynen and his students, puts participants into realistic situations and allows them to learn from their mistakes
reporter.mcgill.ca
reporter.mcgill.ca/cnn-academy-...
Over two decades, some two thousand or more McGill political science students took part in the annual POLI 450 peacebuilding simulation. Now it’s gone global—in part, due to McGill political science alumni. @rexbrynen.bsky.social
Over two decades, some two thousand or more McGill political science students took part in the annual POLI 450 peacebuilding simulation. Now it’s gone global—in part, due to McGill political science alumni. @rexbrynen.bsky.social
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Sep 16
MORS Certificate in Wargaming (November 2025)
The next Military Operations Research Society Certificate in Wargaming course will take place online on 17–21 November 2025. This five-day, online program is one of the only opportunities outside of government or academia to gain practical, high-level training in professional game design. Whether you’re just stepping into the field or looking to refine your skills, this course provides a comprehensive foundation you can put to work immediately.
paxsims.wordpress.com
MORS Certificate in Wargaming (November 2025)
The next Military Operations Research Society Certificate in Wargaming course will take place online on 17–21 November 2025. This five-day, online program is one of the only opportunities outside of government or academia to gain practical, high-level…
The next Military Operations Research Society Certificate in Wargaming course will take place online on 17–21 November 2025. This five-day, online program is one of the only opportunities outside of government or academia to gain practical, high-level…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Sep 11
CNN Academy is sending journalists to Brynania, a fictional country created at McGill - McGill Reporter
Learning simulation, invented by Professor Rex Brynen and his students, puts participants into realistic situations and allows them to learn from their mistakes
reporter.mcgill.ca
Today’s CNN Academy simulations build on more than two decades of peacebuilding simulation at McGill University @mcgillpolisci.bsky.social reporter.mcgill.ca/cnn-academy-...
Reposted by David Dunning, Rex Brynen
Reposted by Kori Schake, Rex Brynen
Aaron Rupar
@atrupar.com
· Sep 4
Favorable numbers for top Trump officials
RFK Jr: -7
Rubio: -10
Vance: -11
Hegseth: -14
RFK Jr: -7
Rubio: -10
Vance: -11
Hegseth: -14
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Aug 27
Shifting Sands matrix game
Shifting Sands is a matrix game developed by James Hood and Chris Hunt at Assiniboine College. For the Environmental Legislation course, the Shifting Sands matrix game provides an interactive opportunity for students to evaluate the environmental, social, economic, and community impacts of development in the context of an extraction project. The proposed project presents opportunities to support electrification at a global scale but with potential negative impacts to local groundwater used by local rural and Indigenous communities.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Shifting Sands matrix game
Shifting Sands is a matrix game developed by James Hood and Chris Hunt at Assiniboine College. For the Environmental Legislation course, the Shifting Sands matrix game provides an interactive opportunity for students to evaluate the environmental, social, economic, and…
Shifting Sands is a matrix game developed by James Hood and Chris Hunt at Assiniboine College. For the Environmental Legislation course, the Shifting Sands matrix game provides an interactive opportunity for students to evaluate the environmental, social, economic, and…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Aug 27
Games for Cities
Games for Cities is a five day training programme that will be held weekly in Amsterdam from 25 September to 30 October 2025. In this five-day training, you will learn how to develop and strategically apply games to address complex spatial and societal challenges. Drawing on theory and latest technologies such as Urban AI, digital participation tools, and inspiring real-life examples, you will develop your skills step by step.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Games for Cities
Games for Cities is a five day training programme that will be held weekly in Amsterdam from 25 September to 30 October 2025. In this five-day training, you will learn how to develop and strategically apply games to address complex spatial and societal challenges. Drawing on…
Games for Cities is a five day training programme that will be held weekly in Amsterdam from 25 September to 30 October 2025. In this five-day training, you will learn how to develop and strategically apply games to address complex spatial and societal challenges. Drawing on…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Aug 24
Wargames Suisse Connections 2025
Switzerland gets its first Connections wargaming conference, on 20-21 September 2025 in Pully and Lausanne, Switzerland. Full details below. Wargame Connections Suisse_WCS25_Flyer_V1.1Download
paxsims.wordpress.com
Wargames Suisse Connections 2025
Switzerland gets its first Connections wargaming conference, on 20-21 September 2025 in Pully and Lausanne, Switzerland. Full details below. Wargame Connections Suisse_WCS25_Flyer_V1.1Download
Switzerland gets its first Connections wargaming conference, on 20-21 September 2025 in Pully and Lausanne, Switzerland. Full details below. Wargame Connections Suisse_WCS25_Flyer_V1.1Download
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Aug 24
Armchair Dragoons: Connection US AAR
At Armchair Dragoons, Aaron Danis has written a report on the recent Connections (US) 2025 interdisciplinary wargaming conference: Connections 2025! (Part I) Professional meets Commercial Wargaming Connections 2025! (Part II) Professional meets Commercial Wargaming
paxsims.wordpress.com
Armchair Dragoons: Connection US AAR
At Armchair Dragoons, Aaron Danis has written a report on the recent Connections (US) 2025 interdisciplinary wargaming conference: Connections 2025! (Part I) Professional meets Commercial Wargaming Connections 2025! (Part II) Professional meets Commercial…
At Armchair Dragoons, Aaron Danis has written a report on the recent Connections (US) 2025 interdisciplinary wargaming conference: Connections 2025! (Part I) Professional meets Commercial Wargaming Connections 2025! (Part II) Professional meets Commercial…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Aug 24
Simulation & Gaming (October 2025)
The latest issue of Simulation & Gaming 56, 5 (October 2025) is now available. Editorial Dealing with Career Uncertainties: A Playful Strategy on How to Hit Your Career Jackpot Marlies P. Schijven and Toshiko Kikkawa Research Articles Board Game as a Participatory Design Technique for Urban Spaces: A Ludological Analysis Abdullah Eren Demirel and Ela Alanyalı Aral Farmer Preferences on Contested Land Use in Agroforestry Landscapes: The RESORTES Game Implementation in Indonesia …
paxsims.wordpress.com
Simulation & Gaming (October 2025)
The latest issue of Simulation & Gaming 56, 5 (October 2025) is now available. Editorial Dealing with Career Uncertainties: A Playful Strategy on How to Hit Your Career Jackpot Marlies P. Schijven and Toshiko Kikkawa Research Articles Board Game as a…
The latest issue of Simulation & Gaming 56, 5 (October 2025) is now available. Editorial Dealing with Career Uncertainties: A Playful Strategy on How to Hit Your Career Jackpot Marlies P. Schijven and Toshiko Kikkawa Research Articles Board Game as a…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Aug 18
Simulation and gaming miscellany, August 2025
It has been a very busy summer and we've fallen a bit behind but updates. Do not worry, though—here is our usual periodic (if much delayed) collection of items on serious (and not-so-serious) games and simulations. With the support of the Canadian Army Land Warfare Centre and the wargaming team at the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre, the Canadian Army conducted a wargame earlier this year to examine future formations and equipment.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Simulation and gaming miscellany, August 2025
It has been a very busy summer and we've fallen a bit behind but updates. Do not worry, though—here is our usual periodic (if much delayed) collection of items on serious (and not-so-serious) games and simulations. With the support of the Canadian Army…
It has been a very busy summer and we've fallen a bit behind but updates. Do not worry, though—here is our usual periodic (if much delayed) collection of items on serious (and not-so-serious) games and simulations. With the support of the Canadian Army…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Aug 11
Educating warfighters with wargames
The Royal Danish Defence College will be hosting a one-day professional conference on Educating Warfighters with Wargames in Copenhagen on 11 November 2025, addressing the use of wargames in professional military education across Europe. The agenda and contact information can be found below.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Educating warfighters with wargames
The Royal Danish Defence College will be hosting a one-day professional conference on Educating Warfighters with Wargames in Copenhagen on 11 November 2025, addressing the use of wargames in professional military education across Europe. The agenda and contact…
The Royal Danish Defence College will be hosting a one-day professional conference on Educating Warfighters with Wargames in Copenhagen on 11 November 2025, addressing the use of wargames in professional military education across Europe. The agenda and contact…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Aug 10
Brooks: The Wargaming “Snowman”
The following article was written for PAXsims by Lieutenant Colonel Daniel “Tyler” Brooks (United States Army). At the time of writing, LTC Brooks serves as an Army Strategist (FA59/W1A) and wargame designer in the Department of Strategic Wargaming (DSW) at the United States Army War College (USAWC) in Carlise Barracks, PA, where he teaches the Army’s “Wargame Designer Course,” two wargaming electives for the School for Strategic Landpower (SSL), and runs bespoke analytical wargames for the Army and Joint Force.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Brooks: The Wargaming “Snowman”
The following article was written for PAXsims by Lieutenant Colonel Daniel “Tyler” Brooks (United States Army). At the time of writing, LTC Brooks serves as an Army Strategist (FA59/W1A) and wargame designer in the Department of Strategic Wargaming (DSW) at the…
The following article was written for PAXsims by Lieutenant Colonel Daniel “Tyler” Brooks (United States Army). At the time of writing, LTC Brooks serves as an Army Strategist (FA59/W1A) and wargame designer in the Department of Strategic Wargaming (DSW) at the…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Jul 22
CNN Academy at University College Dublin
Earlier this month CNN Academy ran a two-week journalism summer school in Ireland in partnership with the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin. The first week focused on developing journalism skills, while the second week saw students testing those skills in a newsgathering assignment to the fictional country of Brynania. The scenario this year focused on digital disinformation, including social media, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
paxsims.wordpress.com
CNN Academy at University College Dublin
Earlier this month CNN Academy ran a two-week journalism summer school in Ireland in partnership with the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin. The first week focused on developing journalism skills, while the second week saw students testing…
Earlier this month CNN Academy ran a two-week journalism summer school in Ireland in partnership with the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin. The first week focused on developing journalism skills, while the second week saw students testing…