Chapter 1: Defining International Relations Through Global Disasters and Film

Introduction

Welcome to International Relations: Exploring Security Through Global Disasters and Film! In this book, we’ll be exploring the intricate and often chaotic world of international relations (IR) through an unconventional—and far more thrilling—lens: global disasters and film. If your mental image of IR involves diplomats in suits having endless meetings, you’re not wrong, but there’s so much more to it. International relations is also about grappling with big questions like, “What would happen if aliens suddenly appeared?” or “How would countries react if a pandemic spread with zombie-apocalypse speed?” These hypothetical scenarios might sound like the stuff of movies (because they are), but they can teach us a lot about how nations cooperate—or don’t—when faced with existential threats.

In this first chapter, we’ll start out with some foundational concepts of international relations. Who are the key players in this global system, and what makes working together so complicated? How do the concepts of anarchy and sovereignty shape the way states behave, especially during crises? By the end, you’ll not only be able to analyze global crises with the sharp eye of an IR pro, but you’ll also understand why some disaster movies seem to turn world leaders into participants in a high-stakes reality show. Along the way, you’ll discover how theories of international relations apply to the most challenging situations—both real and imagined. From exploring why states struggle to cooperate to evaluating the tensions between state sovereignty and collective action, this chapter will give you the tools to tackle the chaos of international relations, one global crisis at a time.