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%
My pleasure!
WWN: Kriegsspiel
An announcement from the Women's Wargaming Network: On February 7, 2026, the Women’s Wargaming Network (WWN) will partner with the International Kriegsspiel Society (IKS) to host a live, facilitated Kriegsspiel session, the 200-year-old Prussian staff wargame that still shapes how military decision-making is taught today. Date: Feb 07, 2026Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM EST | 5:00 – 9:00 PM CET…
paxsims.wordpress.com
WWN: Kriegsspiel
An announcement from the Women's Wargaming Network: On February 7, 2026, the Women’s Wargaming Network (WWN) will partner with the International Kriegsspiel Society (IKS) to host a live, facilitated Kriegsspiel session, the 200-year-old Prussian staff wargame that still shapes how…
An announcement from the Women's Wargaming Network: On February 7, 2026, the Women’s Wargaming Network (WWN) will partner with the International Kriegsspiel Society (IKS) to host a live, facilitated Kriegsspiel session, the 200-year-old Prussian staff wargame that still shapes how…
#GFC2026
The 2026 Games for Change Festival will take place in New York on 21-22 July. As education, entertainment, technology, and community engagement continue to evolve, play has become a powerful form of self-expression and exploration, enabling us to envision better futures and test bold ideas. Play is more than games; it's a living, evolving force that invites experimentation, collaboration, and creative exploration.
paxsims.wordpress.com
#GFC2026
The 2026 Games for Change Festival will take place in New York on 21-22 July. As education, entertainment, technology, and community engagement continue to evolve, play has become a powerful form of self-expression and exploration, enabling us to envision better futures and test bold…
The 2026 Games for Change Festival will take place in New York on 21-22 July. As education, entertainment, technology, and community engagement continue to evolve, play has become a powerful form of self-expression and exploration, enabling us to envision better futures and test bold…
Humans (and Non-Humans) at Play: Games and Simulations in Crisis Management
The 42nd annual EGOS (online) conference will feature a session on Humans (and Non-Humans) at Play: Games and Simulations in Crisis Management, convened by Andrea Bernardi, Giulia Gaudenzi, and Philippe Lépinard. The deadline for uploading a short paper is January 7. We would like to host research on the relationship between wargaming, simulations, and organization studies. The sub-theme invites papers addressing the role of games and simulations in studying organizations and in management education.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Humans (and Non-Humans) at Play: Games and Simulations in Crisis Management
The 42nd annual EGOS (online) conference will feature a session on Humans (and Non-Humans) at Play: Games and Simulations in Crisis Management, convened by Andrea Bernardi, Giulia Gaudenzi, and Philippe Lépinard. The…
The 42nd annual EGOS (online) conference will feature a session on Humans (and Non-Humans) at Play: Games and Simulations in Crisis Management, convened by Andrea Bernardi, Giulia Gaudenzi, and Philippe Lépinard. The…
please take a moment to appreciate Tesla's epic accomplishment of coming dead last in the auto industry in reliability, despite making relatively expensive cars with a tiny fraction of the moving parts
www.consumerreports.org/cars/which-b...
www.consumerreports.org/cars/which-b...
Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Rex Brynen
Canada launches billion dollar plan to recruit top researchers
Canada on Tuesday launched a CAN$1.7 billion ($1.2 billion) program to recruit leading global researchers, part of the effort to poach intellectual talent looking to leave the United States because of...
www.france24.com
🎉 At last it's public ... "Canada on Tuesday launched a CAN$1.7 billion ($1.2 billion) program to recruit leading global researchers, part of the effort to poach intellectual talent looking to leave the United States because of President Donald Trump's policies." 🇨🇦 💪 www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Gaming the American challenge after the NSS
Back in March, I wrote a deliberately provocative piece that suggested "wargaming must account for a new and unexpected “Red”: Donald Trump’s new United States of America." With the recent release of the new US National Security Strategy (NSS), that concern seems validated. The discussion below highlights my own views on the Trump Administration's emerging strategic doctrine, the particular implications of that for my own country (Canada), and finally some more brief thoughts on what we need to be (war)gaming if we are to support an effective strategic response.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Gaming the American challenge after the NSS
Back in March, I wrote a deliberately provocative piece that suggested "wargaming must account for a new and unexpected “Red”: Donald Trump’s new United States of America." With the recent release of the new US National Security Strategy (NSS), that…
Back in March, I wrote a deliberately provocative piece that suggested "wargaming must account for a new and unexpected “Red”: Donald Trump’s new United States of America." With the recent release of the new US National Security Strategy (NSS), that…
Reposted by Bonnie Honig, Rex Brynen
DOJ orders prison inspectors to stop considering LGBTQ safety standards
A memo obtained by NPR shows the Justice Department is telling inspectors to stop evaluating prisons using standards designed to protect trans and other LGBTQ community members from sexual violence.
www.npr.org
It's not surprising that a rapist's presidential administration is removing standards intended to prevent rape.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
(War)gaming Canadian Security in an Era of Strategic Uncertainty
"Triumph through Diversity" memorial, Parliament Hill, Ottawa. The Connections North 2026 professional (war)gaming conference will be held at the National Capital Region Officers’ Mess, Ottawa on 14 March 2026. The theme this year will be (War)gaming Canadian Security in an Era of Strategic Uncertainty. Canada’s security environment is being reshaped by an unusually volatile convergence of external and internal strategic pressures.
paxsims.wordpress.com
(War)gaming Canadian Security in an Era of Strategic Uncertainty
"Triumph through Diversity" memorial, Parliament Hill, Ottawa. The Connections North 2026 professional (war)gaming conference will be held at the National Capital Region Officers’ Mess, Ottawa on 14 March 2026. The theme this year…
"Triumph through Diversity" memorial, Parliament Hill, Ottawa. The Connections North 2026 professional (war)gaming conference will be held at the National Capital Region Officers’ Mess, Ottawa on 14 March 2026. The theme this year…
Bridging theory, practice, and pressure: CNN Academy’s humanitarian health journalism simulation
This article was written for PAXsims by Zinzi Sibanda a BA(Hons) student in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge and a member of the CNN Academy simulation team. The report below reflects her personal views, and not those of CNN or any other organization. Humanitarian crisis simulations are well established across the international system. United Nations agencies, NGOs, government organizations, and universities have long built exercises to replicate the pressure and complexity of real emergencies—from the …
paxsims.wordpress.com
Bridging theory, practice, and pressure: CNN Academy’s humanitarian health journalism simulation
This article was written for PAXsims by Zinzi Sibanda a BA(Hons) student in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge and a member of the CNN Academy simulation team. The report below reflects…
This article was written for PAXsims by Zinzi Sibanda a BA(Hons) student in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge and a member of the CNN Academy simulation team. The report below reflects…
Reposted by Charles W. Smith, Alan Richardson, Rex Brynen
Danielle Smith uses notwithstanding clause to declare herself premier of B.C.
Prime Minister Mark Carney disagrees with the concept of a premier of one province unilaterally taking over a different province but his hands are tied by his unwillingness to do anything about it.
www.thebeaverton.com
Danielle Smith uses notwithstanding clause to declare herself premier of B.C.
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Save the date: Connections North 2026
We are pleased to be able to announce that the Connections North 2026 professional (war)gaming conference will be held at the National Capital Region Officers’ Mess at 149 Somerset St West in Ottawa on Saturday 14th March 2026. A more complete announcement with theme, costs, and booking instructions will follow soon. We look forward to seeing you there! Information on previous Connections North conferences can be found here.
paxsims.wordpress.com
Save the date: Connections North 2026
We are pleased to be able to announce that the Connections North 2026 professional (war)gaming conference will be held at the National Capital Region Officers’ Mess at 149 Somerset St West in Ottawa on Saturday 14th March 2026. A more complete announcement…
We are pleased to be able to announce that the Connections North 2026 professional (war)gaming conference will be held at the National Capital Region Officers’ Mess at 149 Somerset St West in Ottawa on Saturday 14th March 2026. A more complete announcement…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Nov 12
INVESTIGATING ATROCITY: Military Observers in Carana
INVESTIGATING ATROCITY: Military Observers in Carana is a new online (browser) serious game, launched today. Walter Dorn (Royal Military College and Canadian Defence College) writes: I am delighted to announce that, after five years of effort, a new R&D product is being published today. It is not another paper or book, but a digital simulation (www.peacekeepingsim.net), akin to a video game.
paxsims.wordpress.com
INVESTIGATING ATROCITY: Military Observers in Carana
INVESTIGATING ATROCITY: Military Observers in Carana is a new online (browser) serious game, launched today. Walter Dorn (Royal Military College and Canadian Defence College) writes: I am delighted to announce that, after five years of effort, a…
INVESTIGATING ATROCITY: Military Observers in Carana is a new online (browser) serious game, launched today. Walter Dorn (Royal Military College and Canadian Defence College) writes: I am delighted to announce that, after five years of effort, a…
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
Emma Monk
@monkemma.bsky.social
· Nov 8
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
🧵
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Nov 7
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.
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Nov 1
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…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Oct 31
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…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Oct 30
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.…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Oct 24
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…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Oct 24
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…
Rex Brynen
@rexbrynen.bsky.social
· Oct 22
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
Social Media Lab
@socialmedialab.ca
· Oct 15
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…