Human Security Challenge

The game starts with a short explanation of the rules. The game participants (24 people ideally) are divided into two times six groups. There are two game boards. Each game board represents the world and the teams each represent a (invented) country. During the game, the countries can expand their security by imposing security measures across their country, which yield capital to invest for the next round of the game. The objective is to generate as much power as possible from the security measures at the end of the game. There are ten rounds in the game. When the rounds are over, the game is finished with a debrief that encourages an appreciation of the benefits of mutual cooperation and of long-term sustainability.

The world is becoming increasingly complex and this calls for appropriate tools on how to deal with the world’s commons. The Human Security Challenge aims to provide players with insights into the dynamics at play and to stimulate reflection on collaboration between different players with different interests and perspectives. The Human Security Challenge is a variation on the Perspectivity Climate Challenge, which is based on the tragedy of the commons and complexity theory. The Human Security Challenge was developed by Perspectivity and the Human Security Collective.

youth, law enforcement service, everyone, aid workers, public administration, local communities, ngos, policy makers

The Challenge focuses on hard and soft measures of security and is used as a tool to start the conversation about the different aspects of security. The game is designed in a way that ensures the participants gain an improved understanding of the complexity of security issues and also helps them reflect on how they, as individuals, make decisions and position themselves in relation to each other.

Human Security Collective has integrated this challenge in their work with young community leaders in the Middle East and North Africa region and beyond. They have found that playing the game is a useful way of discussing conflict and cooperation on a macro level, before then contextualizing the conversation to human security on an individual/the community level.

Perspectivity, Human Security Collective

board game

strategy, simulation, resource game

Perspectivity challenges are offered in a three-tier tariff set-up; Profit-sector €89,- p.p., semi-profit sector €59,- p.p. and Non-profit €29,- p.p. Licensing is possible under special arrangement, which includes a Training of trainers. Perspectivity uses the proceeds of Perspectivity Challenge sessions for further investment, with the objective to give as many young people as possible the chance to learn valuable lessons about navigating complexity.

more than 10 players

1 moderator

2 hours and more

Human Security Challenge game set

English, Dutch