Next to the spoken word, books have served as the primary medium for relaying human history throughout the ages. In the last few millennia that humans have been writing there have evolved many styles and philosophies to the writing of history and the last century has seen a particularly eclectic spike. This page will be dedicated to reviewing contemporary works with an emphasis on their approach to analyzing history.
Theories of International Politics and Zombies
A Review by Mr. Robert Dominguez
In Daniel Drezner’s work, Theories of International Politics and Zombies, the author seeks to explain the ways competing theories of political science would deal with a Zombie Apocalypse. Drezner, a professor of political science at Princeton University, frames his work in the “eventuality” of a threat emanating from a pandemic of the undead encapsulating the globe. All paradigms of international relations are models of interaction that can be applied to any source of a threat or problem that is faced in the international community. Drezner asks, if these different perspectives can be applied to an existential threat as real as terrorism, then why not to an entirely ghoulish peril like that of The Night of the Living Dead? Central to Drezner’s work are the commonly accepted theories of international relations: realism, neorealism, liberalism, and social constructivism. Each of these perspectives has been developed in the last century and all have been the focus of heavy scholarship and intense scrutiny. As these theories compete to explain the interactions of states and the ways by which countries behave in certain situations, different characteristics and qualities become clear. Each of these theories operates based on certain assumptions about the international community of states, its leaders, and the ways that different actors interact with each other.[1] Drezner’s work begins by showcasing the recent “scholarship” on zombie studies and the genre’s appearance in popular culture through various mediums. This backdrop provides relevant information that aids the reader in appreciating the “reliable probability” that zombies pose as a threat to the modern day international system’s status quo. Systematically, each of the most commonly accepted perspectives of international relations is applied to the threat of zombies. Drezner’s work seeks to illustrate the different views that international relations scholars have taken on global issues and to aid the reader in understanding the assumptions, strengths, and weaknesses of each. Drezner’s approach aptly demonstrates the tenants of each philosophy. For example, when presenting the realist’s belief that states focus on the balance of power between themselves, the author uses popular culture zombie references as a comparison for the lack of cooperation of individuals faced with a zombie threat as being equated to the lack of cooperation amongst states against real-world threats (Drezner, 2011, p. 36). [2] [3] The second portion of Drezner’s work focuses on the reactionary elements present within our international instructions and governments. While the first section of his work is dedicated to illustrating the individual responses to the threat of zombies, the latter part of his work gives a summary of the psychological and socially constructed responses we, as humans, would have to our zombie-cousins. This popular culture comparison, coupled with real-world academic scholarship, creates a read that can be appreciated by both the amateur/novice students of political science and the jaded cynics of academia. Drezner brings together an expert point of view on the competing theories of international relations that is relatable, thought provoking, and entertaining. Without question, you won’t be able to keep from sinking your teeth into it. Get it? Teeth…biting…zombies? Brains! [1] Actor is a term that is used to describe different “players” in the international system. For example, leaders of countries are actors; larger entities, such as Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), can also be actors, however. [2] The core belief of realists is that power between states should be balanced in a manner that keeps “global peace” and prevents any one state from becoming disproportionally powerful compared to all others. [3] Referencing George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968). |
Zombie diplomacy courtesy of AMC Networks Inc.
A Classic
Mr. R"aahhhh"bert Domin"guueeezzzzz"
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