Chapter 3: The State in International Relations- Nationalism and State Power in Dystopian Futures

3.1: Case Study- The Hunger Games, Nationalism, and Failed States.

Dystopias are imagined worlds where oppressive governments, social breakdown, and widespread suffering create a dark, often nightmarish society. These fictional scenarios act as cautionary tales, exploring the consequences of extreme political control, state failure, or the loss of individual freedoms. In the study of international relations, dystopias allow us to examine concepts like state sovereignty, nationalism, and different forms of government by exaggerating these dynamics to their breaking points. Through dystopian settings, we gain insight into how power structures, ideologies, and national identities influence societies—for better or for worse. This chapter uses dystopian themes to understand the complex role of the state, explore the impacts of nationalism, and analyze what happens when governments collapse, revealing the very real relevance of these ideas in a high-stakes, fictional context.

In this chapter, we will use The Hunger Games film franchise as our dystopian case study. We volunteer as tribute! The Hunger Games franchise takes place in the dystopian world of Panem, a nation divided into a wealthy Capitol and twelve oppressed districts. To maintain control and remind the districts of their defeat in a past rebellion, the Capitol annually forces each district to send two teenagers, known as “tributes,” to participate in a brutal, televised competition called the Hunger Games, where they must fight to the death. The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a young woman from impoverished District 12, who volunteers to take her sister’s place in the Games. As she survives the arena, Katniss becomes a symbol of hope and resistance, inspiring the districts to challenge the Capitol’s tyranny. Her growing influence, along with the rebellion brewing across Panem, leads to a high-stakes conflict that escalates into an all-out war. Through Katniss’s journey, the franchise explores themes of survival, authoritarianism, sacrifice, and the fight for freedom, ultimately questioning the costs of power and resistance in a deeply divided society. Check out this video below to get a feel for what life is like in Panem, particularly for those in the poorer Districts during the annual Reaping Ceremony.

Much like the zombies we used in Chapter 2, dystopian worlds like those in The Hunger Games franchise provide a powerful lens for testing the strengths and limitations of international relations theories. These extreme settings simulate the breakdown of society, unchecked authoritarianism, and widespread injustice—conditions that push each theory to its limits. By examining how different theories would respond to such intense stressors, we gain a deeper understanding of their principles and what each theory prioritizes in maintaining or challenging political order. In a world where governments fail to protect citizens or actively oppress them, each theory offers unique perspectives on power, resistance, and international intervention. Studying these reactions in a fictional dystopia allows us to critically examine the values and assumptions behind realism, liberalism, constructivism, Marxism, and feminism, helping us to apply these frameworks to both hypothetical scenarios and real-world crises.