TIT-FOR-TAT STRATEGY

Tit-for-Tat Strategy Anyone?

The Prisoner's Dilemma is a logical exercise in Game Theory that demonstrates the tension between individual self-interest and mutual benefit. Game Theory is relevant to the current conflict between US-backed Israeli soldiers and the Pro-Palestinian Iran-backed Axis of Resistance. The phrase Military Intelligence is often given as an example of an oxymoron, often for good reasons.

In the current conflict, Game Theory offers good opportunities to play the Prisoner's Dilemma. Currently, the game is being played poorly and all parties are paying a great price. Instead of de-escalation, we see escalating war hostilities, where each party, prioritising their own safety and territorial interests, responds aggressively to the other, leading to a cycle of vengeful retaliation.

This war mirrors the worst decisions possible in the Prisoner's Dilemma, with all parties ending up worse off than if they had cooperated more often. Research into iterated versions of the Prisoner's Dilemma - where the game is played several times - reveals that out of hundreds of possible game strategies, the 'tit-for-tat' strategy is the most successful.

The tit-for-tat strategy begins with cooperation and then, in subsequent rounds, replicates the other party's previous move. Tit-for-tat applied to the ongoing Israel and Arab conflict would require acts of cooperation by both sides, hoping for a similar response from the other, potentially leading to a series of reciprocal actions that could break the cycle of violence.

The tit-for-tat strategy recognises that although the temptation for immediate gain or retaliation is strong, consistent cooperation can lead to better outcomes over time. Translating this strategy into complex geopolitical conflicts requires the courage to not only forgive all the moves prior to the last move of the other party, but to cooperate in anticipation of future benefits.

The current dilemma requires intelligence by those calling the shots, to take cooperative steps with a higher ethical viewpoint and a long-term vision for peace.