Author: GEW Intelligence Unit
Editor: Hichem Karoui
- Publisher : Global East-West (GEW)

- Publication date : July 28, 2026
- Language : English
- Print length : 283 pages
What determines the outcome of elections before the first vote is cast? Why do governments form unlikely coalitions? How can diplomatic crises be analysed as strategic interactions rather than isolated events? The Political Playbook: Game Theory for Predicting Elections, Policies, and Power answers these questions by presenting one of the most comprehensive practical introductions to political game theory available today.
Drawing upon political science, economics, decision theory, behavioural psychology, and computational modelling, this volume explains how strategic thinking shapes political outcomes at every level—from local elections to international diplomacy. Readers are guided through the construction of payoff matrices, Nash equilibria, Bayesian games, signalling models, coalition bargaining, repeated games, sanctions, negotiations, behavioural biases, lobbying strategies, and evolutionary political dynamics.
Unlike purely theoretical textbooks, this work emphasises practical application. It demonstrates how analytical models can be used to interpret election campaigns, predict legislative behaviour, assess diplomatic negotiations, evaluate sanctions policies, and understand the strategic calculations of governments, political parties, and international organisations. The final chapters explore the growing role of artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and simulation techniques in modern political forecasting.
Written in a clear and accessible style while maintaining academic rigour, the book is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students, university instructors, political consultants, campaign strategists, journalists, intelligence analysts, diplomats, think tanks, public policy professionals, and researchers seeking systematic methods for analysing political competition.
As democratic systems become increasingly data-driven and geopolitical competition grows more complex, strategic analysis has become indispensable. This volume equips readers with the conceptual tools needed to understand not only what political actors do, but why they do it—and what they are likely to do next.
Whether used as a university textbook, a professional reference, or an independent guide to political strategy, The Political Playbook offers a powerful framework for understanding the strategic logic that underlies elections, governance, diplomacy, and the pursuit of political power in the twenty-first century.
Available on request, in a range of formats and editions (e-book, Kindle, hardcover and paperback):
Links to various retailers: https://books2read.com/u/bWVzZ1
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1787957977
Samawy (Saudi Arabia and the Gulf):https://www.samawy.com/i/1039059/The-Political-Playbook
