Chapter 2: Theories of International Relations & Zombies

2.5: Critical Theories & Marxism

While traditional theories like realism and liberalism focus on power, states, and institutions, critical theories in international relations push us to ask deeper questions: Who holds the power? Who is being exploited? Whose voices are being silenced? Critical theories challenge the mainstream perspectives of IR by emphasizing issues of inequality, oppression, and emancipation. They argue that global politics is not just about state security or economic cooperation, but also about addressing power structures that perpetuate social and economic injustices. These approaches offer fresh perspectives on how international relations are conducted and open the door to questioning the fairness of the global system.

One of the most well-known critical theories is Marxism, which interprets international relations primarily through the lens of economic class struggles. Marxism argues that the global political system is dominated by capitalist powers that exploit the working class and poorer nations. In this view, states are not the primary actors; rather, economic classes are. Wealthy capitalist countries maintain their dominance by exploiting labor and resources from less-developed nations, perpetuating global inequality. For example, multinational corporations often extract valuable resources from developing countries at low costs, while the profits are funneled back to wealthy nations, leaving the poorer states in a cycle of dependency. Marxism offers a stark critique of the global economy by focusing on the inherent exploitation within the capitalist system.

Building on this, Dependency Theory takes Marxist ideas and applies them to the global economy. Dependency theorists argue that wealthy nations, particularly those in the Global North, systematically exploit poorer countries in the Global South, creating a global economic structure that keeps the latter dependent on the former. This dependency is not accidental—it’s built into the global capitalist system. Poorer nations are often forced to specialize in the production of raw materials and agricultural products, while wealthier nations dominate industries with higher profits like manufacturing and technology. For example, many African nations rely on exporting raw commodities like coffee and oil, but the profits from these goods largely benefit multinational companies headquartered in the Global North. This keeps developing countries in a state of economic dependency, limiting their ability to grow and develop their own industries. In this way, dependency theory highlights how international relations can perpetuate inequality between nations.

Marxism: The Rich Get Bunkers, the Poor Get Zombies

If a zombie apocalypse ever breaks out, don’t expect the rich to be running for their lives—they’ll be running for their private bunkers while the rest of us fight off the undead with canned beans and a baseball bat. Marxism views international relations primarily through the lens of economic class struggle, and in a zombie apocalypse, this theory would highlight how the capitalist system exacerbates inequality and exploitation. Marxists would argue that the wealthy elite would leverage their resources to shield themselves from the crisis, while the working class—especially in poorer countries—would suffer disproportionately. The rich might retreat to fortified bunkers, hire private security forces, or escape to exclusive, well-protected safe zones, leaving the working class to fend for themselves in overcrowded cities with little access to food, medicine, or weapons. In a capitalist system, survival itself could become a commodity, where only those with money have the means to escape the worst of the crisis. Governments and corporations would likely prioritize protecting economic elites, while the most vulnerable populations would be left to deal with the outbreak largely on their own.

A real-world parallel can be seen in how disasters like pandemics or economic crises disproportionately impact the poor. During the COVID-19 pandemic, wealthier individuals had the ability to work remotely, access private healthcare, and stockpile essential supplies, while lower-income workers—often in frontline jobs—were more exposed to the virus and had fewer resources to cope with economic hardships. Similarly, in World War Z, wealthy and well-connected individuals escape to protected zones while lower-income populations, particularly in developing nations, are left exposed to the full force of the outbreak. Even in fictional zombie scenarios, the wealthy often use their resources to secure survival, while the working class is either abandoned or exploited—forced into dangerous labor or even used as bait to slow down zombie hordes. From a Marxist perspective, a zombie apocalypse wouldn’t just be about the undead—it would be about how capitalism ensures that the rich get bunkers, and the poor get bitten.