Using Mini-Games to Teach Cyber Issues to Social Science Students

Abstract

This essay outlines a set of mini-games designed to more effectively allow political science instructors, particularly in International Relations, teach basic principles and concepts associated with digital insecurity and cyber conflict. This topic, increasingly significant in IR syllabi in recent years, is in many cases considered with trepidation or uncertainty about the significance of different subjects within that might be covered. As a result, instructors often fall back on discussion of paradigm examples and fail to teach the underlying principles of function and logical design that give students insight into the security dynamics of the digital domain. Without such instruction, students in political science are less likely to act on interest in digital issues or science, technology and society topics more broadly. The games suggested herein are resources aimed at easing the challenge of providing such instruction and are accompanied by elaboration on student responses from three years of their use. These mini-games are extremely successful and, more importantly, simple and versatile enough that their incorporation in both introductory and intermediate IR syllabi is easy.

Keywords:

• Cyber
• active learning
• cooperative learning

Notes

1 Notable works that link cybersecurity precepts to the realities of digital engagement in international relations, including (Libicki 2007; Kramer, Starr, and Wentz 2010; Rid 2012; Arquilla 2012; Valeriano and Maness 2015; Kello 2017; Buchanan 2017; Maurer 2017).

2 For introduction to this topic, instructors should familiarize themselves with Schneier’s Secrets and Lies, specifically Part 2 on cryptography in context, pp. 85–119.

3 An excellent introduction for each can be found in Corera 2016.

4 Description of these cases can be found in a few core resources, including (Healey and Grindal 2013). A Fierce Domain: Conflict in Cyberspace, 1986 to 2012. Cyber Conflict Studies Association. Additionally, most are the subject of detailed TED talks or similar short scholarly talks available on YouTube (for instance, Rid 2016).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher Whyte

Christopher Whyte is an Assistant Professor in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. He teaches coursework on cyber security policy, conflict and law, and has broadly taught coursework on international security topics, political risk analysis and strategic planning. His research interests include a range of international security topics related to the use of information technology in war and peace, political communication and cybersecurity doctrine/policy.

His dissertation and first book explore the determinants of decision-making among subversive societal fringe actors that choose to use different kinds of ICT in their campaigns. Other ongoing work involves the study of bot manipulation campaigns as part of state-sponsored influence operations, digital antagonism amongst non-state actors and the dynamics of decision-making under diverse cyber conflict scenarios. More broadly, his scholarly and analytic work has appeared or is forthcoming in several publications including International Studies Quarterly, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, International Studies Review, Comparative Strategy, Politics and Governance, Strategic Studies Quarterly, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Orbis, New Media and Society, Foreign Policy, War on the Rocks and The National Interest. He is also coauthor of a Routledge volume on international security and cyberspace – entitled Understanding Cyber Warfare: Politics, Policy and Strategy – with Brian Mazanec and coeditor of an upcoming volume on information warfare in the age of cyber conflict.

Chris received his PhD in Political Science from the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. He also holds a BA in International Relations and Economics from the College of William and Mary and an MA in Political Science from George Mason University. He is presently a nonresident fellow with Pacific Forum and has worked as a research program manager at several consultancies and think tanks.