How much of a factor was (maybe irrational) Military Honor as a factor in war planning or actions (See Reunion ep.)

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Hi,
See reunion were Military Honour played a role in the decision to surrender (or not). The algorythms of games tend to ignore thisvery human factor as officers don’t want to go into history as mr. (or ms.) defeat and thus will rather fight hopeless battle. Some say the “Unconditional Surrender” terms didn’t help on letting the other side keep an honour, although spoiler Japan got to keep its Emperor (and thus a bit of honour).

Just extra to give some extra background, Malcolm Gladwell who was also a speaker on the National WW2 Museum (in New Orleans USA) also made an episode on Military Games were humans did “irrational” things. You sank one of my submarines so I am going to sink one of yours regardless. (so the honour/revenge whatever human element is satisfied).

I leave to you to share your views personally I think this is a very serious aspect as ignoring it might get us all killed in the nuclear age. E.g. the Cold war (to stay in the past) where the talks and personal connections underrated.

A Serious Game - Pushkin

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I loved the reunion episodes by the way because it sort of represents not just France but MANY fractured European countries post 1945. We all had strong Communist fractions (They largely didn’t know or believed everything about Stalin), People who collaborated with the National Socialists, People who want to keep the old Regime or not, Catholics/Protestants vs people who were anti-clerical because they let it happen or greedily participated. The reunion episode is a foresight into these massive tensions.

In another spoiler, The France of De Gualle actually dropped substantially on the Polity IV Democracy index as he was the “benevolent grandfather” busy uniting the French under his grandfatherly rule.

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