By Rebecca Susan Evans (Ursinus College). In his popular textbook, Theories of International Politics and Zombies, Daniel Drezner uses a satirical lens to explore how various international relations theories would respond to a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. Drezner discusses how major theories of international politics would address the rise of a zombie attack. Coordinated attacks from brain-hungry undead beings raise questions of state sovereignty, power dynamics, and global cooperation.
A liberal institutionalist would argue that zombies represent a classic externality problem of dying and then existing in an undead state and posing a threat to the living population. From the perspective of neoliberalism, the global community would need to come together to combat the zombie threat through collective action and cooperation. Realist theories might view the zombie apocalypse as a test of state power and survival, leading to potential alliances and conflicts between nations.
IR feminists should be hailing him as the ally he is and pointing to him as an example of best practice that other mainstream scholars should follow. Drezner's work challenges traditional understandings of international politics by using a pop culture phenomenon like zombies to illustrate complex concepts. The rise of the undead can be seen as a metaphor for global crises, from pandemics to terrorism, forcing policymakers to rethink their strategies for addressing such threats.
The politics list at Princeton stands out as one of the most venerable and distinguished in the field. We publish books that speak not only to topics of traditional politics but also to emerging issues like the intersection of popular culture and international relations. Drezner's book fits within this trend, offering a fresh perspective on how fictional scenarios can shed light on real-world challenges in global politics.
Talking about a mediocre piece of writing can be fun. I have attended many an academic seminar about a bad draft — some of them not so subtly referring to Drezner's humorous take on international politics and zombies. While some may dismiss his work as frivolous, Drezner's book serves as a valuable teaching tool for introducing students to complex theories in a more accessible and engaging way.
e-IR is proud to announce the launch of its new series of articles "Screening Global Politics". The series will function as a rolling series of critical analyses of popular culture representations of international relations, including the portrayal of zombies in media. By examining how zombies are used as a metaphor for global threats, scholars can deepen their understanding of the complexities of international politics and security.
Daniel Drezner's Theories of International Politics and Zombies is a primer on global crises and a parody of the “experts” who study them. Amid the resurgent popularity of zombies in recent years – think The Walking Dead, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Shaun of the Dead and so on – Drezner's book offers a unique perspective on how fictional scenarios can illuminate real-world political challenges.
