Game Theory Case Study

Introduction

Game Theory, originally derived from the subject of Mathematics, aims to provide a way to understand strategic social interactions; such as in the case of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It can be understood as the study and explanation of strategically, mutually-dependent actions and decisions (strategies), made by what are assumed to be ‘rational’ decision-makers (players) in competitive conditions that involve both conflictual and cooperative options (games); where the objective of each player is to achieve the most desirable outcome from a set of potential outcomes (payoffs) (Carlson & Dacey 2013; Myerson 1991; Prisner 2014; Turocy 2001). Despite being a mathematical theory, its application in international relations has been prominent

The Cuban Missile Crisis is therefore extremely fitting to use as a case study for analysis in order to determine the practical usefulness of Game Theoretic proposals, models, and applications. Two basic models; Prisoner’s Dilemma (PD) and Chicken, will be individually demonstrated in the form of a payoff matrix in order to analyse the crisis. The aim of this is to determine the usefulness of applying game theoretical models to a real-life situation of conflict, as applying the example models to the case study will also help in highlighting the flaws of the theory; such as whether the theories are over-simplified or rigid in that they do not, or cannot, take into consideration circumstances surrounding a particular case

An event that may provide insight into the instigation of the Cuban Missile Crisis is the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961; a plot to remove then Prime Minister Fidel Castro and his regime from power in the newly revolutionized Republic of Cuba due to the political structure of the country becoming increasingly communist. The military invasion involved the training of Cuban rebels, against Castro, by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with the consent of both the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. The failure of the event through the defeat of the rebels by Castro’s leadership and forces therefore resulted in the strengthening of Cuban ties with the USSR, as well as the severing of ties with the USA (Absher 2009).

This failure early in Kennedy’s presidency therefore, arguably, led to the escalation of the Cuban Missile crisis due to the determination of the Kennedy administration to ‘redeem themselves’ from the humiliating event; not only the failure of a CIA military organized operation, but also the loss of many US assets within Cuba during its