Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Introduction
Why Video Games?
Shared Cultural Experience
Generate Alternative Scenarios
Real-World Scenario Analogs
Speculative Scenarios
Test Interactive Strategies
Indirect Effects
Which Video Games?
Survival Games: Minecraft
Battle Royales: Fortnite
Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas: LoL
Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games: World of Warcraft
Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate Games: Civilization
Plan of the Book
Chapter 2: Realism: The Enemy of My Enemy Is in the Way of My Chicken Dinner
Theories
Realism
Neorealism
A Realist World and a Realist Game
Conclusion
Chapter 3: Liberalism: From Solo Queue to Flex Queue
Liberalism
Conclusions
Chapter 4: Bargaining Models of War: Making an Offer Pericles Cannot Refuse
Building the Model
War as a Bargaining Failure
Information Problems
Commitment Problems
Indivisible Goods
Conclusion
Chapter 5: Domestic Politics: Open Sourcing World Politics
Breaking down the State
Dictators and Principals
Organizational Model of Foreign Policy
Bureaucratic Model of Foreign Policy
Conclusions
Chapter 6: Constructivism: Minecraft is What Players Make of It
The Social Construction of International Politics
Constructivist Approaches to International Relations
Conclusions
Chapter 7: Identity: Representation and Roleplaying in IR
Gender
Women's Involvement in IR
Impact of International Processes on Women
Civilization
Race and Ethnicity
Intersectionality
Conclusions
Chapter 8: Studying International Relations
Observation
Theory
Hypothesis
Research Design and Analysis
Conclusions
Chapter Conclusions
Chapter 9: Specific Tool: Game Theory
Assumptions
Games and Game Theory
Conclusions
Chapter 10: Specific Tool: Quantitative Research
What Matters in LoL
Data
Research Design and Analysis
Conclusions about League
Data in IR
Conclusions
Chapter 11: Civil Wars: Violence Within
The Causes
State Responses
How Civil Wars End
Conclusions
Chapter 12: International Political Economy: Trade
The Logic of Comparative Advantage
The Positive Externalities of Trade
Conclusions
Chapter 13: International Political Economy: Monetary Policy
Currency Systems
International Processes
Conclusions
Chapter 14: Human Rights: Respect in Physical and Digital Spaces
Human Rights in IR
Enforcing Human Rights
Gaming and Human Rights
Conclusions
Chapter 15: Global Health and the Environment
The Environment
Global Health
Conclusions
Chapter 16: Conclusions
Games as Entertainment
Games as Microcosms of International Interactions
Games as Channels
Appendix I: Quick Guide to the Games in the Book
Appendix II: Alternative Games
About the Author
Glossary
