Wargaming is enjoying a modern resurgence. Once central to military planning during the interwar years, it has re-emerged as a vital method for understanding the strategic challenges of the 21st century — including cyber threats, climate crises, and geopolitical rivalry.
In this self-paced course from King’s College London, students will investigate how wargaming can be used as a powerful tool for strategic analysis. Led by David Banks, Academic Director of the King’s Wargaming Network, the course combines theory with practical insight, examining:
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The strategic logic of victory and how it influences decision-making
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The historical development of wargaming and its professional applications
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The concept of contingent choice in uncertain environments
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The core types and methods of wargame design
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How wargaming is deployed across government, academia, and the private sector
By the end of the course, you’ll understand when and how wargaming can inform complex strategic questions, and how to apply it within your organisation or research.
This is a short course that can be completed in 5 hours — designed to be flexible and fit into your schedule.
