WHITE NOISE. Strategic Decision Game / Marzena Żakowska, Lech Drab, Marek Klasa

WHITE NOISE: A strategy game for Diplomats in a new era of competition

WHITE NOISE is a revolutionary strategy game designed to equip diplomats and foreign service personnel with the skills they need to succeed in today’s complex and challenging 21st century world.


This innovative game goes beyond traditional war games to include a critical information operations component. Players will gain knowledge of how:

• Identify and combat disinformation,

• Develop effective diplomatic strategies,

• Navigate the „gray area” of international relations,

• Use diplomatic and information tools,

• Promote a consistent narrative in the international arena.

WHITE NOISE is not just a game, but a comprehensive training program that includes:

• Real world scenarios based on contemporary events,

• Detailed educational materials on diplomatic protocol,

• Practical exercises to improve key skills,

• Scenarios for working dinners and official diplomatic ceremonies.

WHITE NOISE is an extremely valuable source for:

• Students of international relations.

• Diplomats who want to improve themselves in the profession.

• Diplomatic training institutions.

• Anyone who wants to develop their diplomatic skills.

Don’t fall behind in light of 21st century challenges. Develop your interpersonal and negotiation skills. Learn how to build a team based on effective performance. Develop your strategic thinking skills and make effective decisions.


(…) the game calls upon players to exercise diplomatic and informational instruments of power, both unilaterally and through intergovernmental organisations, such as the ONZ, NATO and the EU.

Byron HARPER – Ph.D., Deputy, Partnership Division

NATO Special Operations Headquarters


The very well written Poland based Scenario can easily be adopted to the needs and political structures of other countries.

Sönke MARAHRENS – Colonel (GS), Director COI Strategy and Defense

The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats


Żakowska, Drab and Klasa highlight the key insight that aggressor nations around the world are employing information-centric warfare and information operations to overwhelm intelligence analysis, sub- vert national decision-making processes, and clutter international venues for dispute resolution.

James G. BRECKENRIDGE – Provost U.S. Army War College


Marzena ŻAKOWSKA is an Associate Professor and lecturer at the Faculty of National Security at the War Studies University. She holds a Ph.D. in Security Science from the National Defence University, Warsaw, Poland.Currently, she is Director of the Global Affairs and Diplomacy Studies and Chair of War Studies Working Group at the International Society of Military Sciences. Professional associations include the Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding, and the United States Institute of Peace in Washington D.C. She cooperate as the Research Fellow with the Royal Military College of Canada and US Army War College. As editor and author, she has published books and articles on armed conflict, hybrid threats, Balkan’s security, and social security issues.

Lech DRAB, Associate Professor at the Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa with practical international experience in the security and defence areas. He is graduated from the NATO Defense College in Rome (Italy), the Geneva Center for Security Policy and the Wrocław University of Technology. He completed a number of specialist courses in the Nether-lands, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. Former Associate Professor of the National Security Department at War Studies University in Warsaw and Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce. Director of the Department of Military Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of National Defense, military advisor to the Permanent Representative of Poland to the EU and the Polish Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels (Belgium). As a member of the Athena training team, he lectured in Brussels, Helsinki, Potsdam, Florence and Montpellier. He chaired the Athena Special Committee during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Author and editor of monographs, book chapters and articles. He specializes in defense diplomacy, international security, NATO and EU security policy and peace operations.

Marek KLASA is a senior lecturer at War Studies University in Warsaw in the Institute of State Security. He holds a Ph.D in Security Sciences. Since 2007 volunteer in pro-defence non-governmental organizations, including Związek Strzelecki “Strzelec” Organizacja Społeczno-Wychowawcza and Jednostka Strzelecka 1313, which are referring to tradition of the polish pre-war “Strzelec” [Rifleman] movement. His research interests include a wide array of subjects including defensive preparations of the territory, security infrastructure, classic military strategy and history of warfare. Co-author of a handful of decision games scenarios.

FOREWORD | Andrzej SOBOŃ ......................................................................................................................................................... 9

REVIEW | James G. BRECKENRIDGE ....................................................................................................................................... 11

REVIEW | Byron HARPER ................................................................................................................................................................................13

REVIEW | Sönke MARAHRENS ........................................................................................................................................................... 15

Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19

How to use this book?................................................................................................................................................................................. 19

Part 1. What is a decision game? ..............................................................................................................................23

What is the “WHITE NOISE” strategic decision game?..................................................................... 27

The origin of the title and its meaning for the game ............................................................................. 27

Assumptions and limitations ...................................................................................................................................................................31

Part 2. Game’s purpose, method, objectives, tasks,

organization and criteria........................................................................................................................................................... 33

Purpose of the game: Why We’re Doing It?................................................................................................................ 35

Method of participation: How We’ll Do It?................................................................................................................ 35

Objectives of the game: What is the expected end state?............................................................ 35

Tasks for players .................................................................................................................................................................................................................36

Organization of the game ..............................................................................................................................................................................38

Criteria for receiving passing grade ...........................................................................................................................................39

Part 3. Game’s scenario ......................................................................................................................................................................41

Detailed information regarding fictional countries................................................................................ 46

Starting situations......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 49

Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................52

Appendices ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 55

Appendix 1: Initial position of the council of ministers of WISLANDIA ...... 57

Appendix 2: Map of the region............................................................................................................................................................63

Appendix 3: Crisis communication fundamentals ................................................................................... 64

Appendix 4: Preparing statements for the media........................................................................................ 66

Appendix 5: Organizing press conferences................................................................................................................67

Appendix 6: Common sources of conflict with the press............................................................ 68

Appendix 7: Example public speeches and media statements ........................................ 69

7.1. Joint statement by the President of the Republic of Poland, the

President of the Republic of Lithuania and the President of Ukraine

on the Russian Federation’s decision to recognize the so-called “DPR”

and “LPR” ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 71

7.2. Statement of the President of the Republic of Poland in the UN

Security Council..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 73

7.3. Speech by the President of the Republic of Poland at the 76th

Session of the UN General Assembly (21 September 2021)........................................... 80

7.4. Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic

of Poland in connection with the statement by the US Secretary

of State on providing airplanes to Ukraine ..................................................................................................... 91

7.5. Speech of the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs at the meeting

with Diplomatic Corps: UN Security Council Presidency (29 July 2019)........92

7.6. Statement by Permanent Representative of Poland, at a UN

Security Council Briefing...................................................................................................................................................................101

7.7. PGA Remarks to the UN Forum on Minority Issues .................................................. 104

7.8. PGA address at the meeting with Principals o

f the UN Sustainable Development Group..................................................................................................107

7.9. PGA Remarks at the General Assembly plenary meeting

on the situation in Afghanistan ............................................................................................................................................113

7.10. Russia/Ukraine: Statement by High Representative

Josep Borrell on the latest missiles attacks................................................................................................... 116

7.11. Statement by the High Representative on behalf

of the EU on the explosion in Poland....................................................................................................................... 117

7.12. Press Statement: The Suwalki corridor is safe thanks

to the service of soldiers ..................................................................................................................................................................... 118

7.13. The heads of the European Union’s defence ministries

support Ukraine ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 119

7.14. Joint Statement by Prime Ministers of Ukraine,

the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Poland

on the Lublin Triangle meeting results ...............................................................................................................120

7.15. National Permanent Representative Statement

for NATO MC or EU MC...................................................................................................................................................................... 123

7.16. Statement by H.E. Krzysztof Szczerski Permanent

Representative of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations.

Agenda item 78: “Crimes Against Humanity” ........................................................................................ 125

7.17. Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Sweden, Poland, and

North Macedonia representing the previous, current and incoming

Chairmanships of the Organization for Security and Co-operation

in Europe (the OSCE Troika) ....................................................................................................................................................128

Appendix 8: Diplomatic parties and working meals........................................................................... 132

Appendix 9: Dress codes................................................................................................................................................................................. 141

Appendix 10: Example of help provided for refugees based on City

of Warsaw support for Ukrainian refugees ..............................................................................................................143

References ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 153

Index of tables .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 157

Index of figures .................................................................................................................................................................................................................158