I found this past class to be a very interesting microcosm of the actual international system. Some of it was intentional. PTJ's setup of having us decide how to split the available resources and the interactions between our groups that resulted from that was a predictable sort of drama, as were the various metadebates surrounding our general group-to-group interactions.

The unintentional aspect of our interactions (namely, the various toy weapons brought to class) allowed for a simultaneously amusing and thought-provoking analogy of the international system. Those with military strength wielded power not in proportion to their wealth; unlikely alliances were formed on the basis of strategical advantage alone.

All in all, it's been a good week for World Politics, and I'm looking forward to more of the same.