The concept of “zombies” or “the undead” is no longer confined to cinematic horror in American films; experts now use this hypothetical scenario to understand the fear that arises in humans from changes in international policies and the extent to which international relations theories can explain and deal with them. This is in line with the experiences of global powers in handling previous global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his intriguing book titled “Theories of International Politics and Zombies: Apocalypse Edition,” published by Princeton and Oxford University Press in 2022, Daniel Drezner surveys the natural and unvoiced fears that humans feel towards ever-evolving international policies, including the hypothetical fear of a global crisis akin to a “zombie” outbreak.
The author points out the numerous sources of fear humans harbor towards events in international politics, such as terrorist attacks, deadly pandemics, natural disasters, climate change, financial conflicts, nuclear proliferation, ethnic strife, global cyber warfare, political polarization, and great power competition. He noted that the September 11, 2001 attacks were a significant catalyst for renewed interest in the potential emergence of “the undead.” Likewise, the anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001 stoked fears surrounding biological terrorism. Drezner argues that equipping oneself with highly aggressive tactics is essential to confronting the phenomenon of transformative beings, which could lead to the collapse of civilization if they were to arise.
The Zombie Scenario:
In his book, Drezner attempts to address the horrific impact that the hypothetical emergence of zombies in science fiction might have, emphasizing the need for enhanced strategic planning for this scenario, as any emergency plans could disintegrate upon first contact with transformed beings. Nevertheless, this planning process itself could improve future policy responses—a fact acknowledged by officials in U.S. strategic planning. He suggests that if the century’s record of military incursions teaches us anything, it is the dangers of conducting foreign policy without a consciously studied approach to potential enemies.
The author notes that traditional political tools, such as nuclear deterrence, economic sanctions, or diplomatic efforts, would be of little benefit against the emergence of transformed beings like zombies. Moreover, more controversial methods like torture, interrogation, drone warfare, or cyber attacks would not yield the desired changes, as the undead do not feel pain and are ineffective on social media. Therefore, a thorough analysis of the situation is crucial to pinpoint optimal global policies for engagement to avoid reactions akin to the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib following the September 11 attacks.
From this point, Drezner formulates his concept of how existing international relations theories might respond to the potential eruption of the “zombie” scenario and what recommendations could stem from these theories—when would policies of hiding and evading be the best choice?
Human Responses to Crises:
The author discusses the variance in human reactions during times of crisis, ranging from fear and disgust to awe. The emergence of zombies parallels the outbreak of pandemics, as Drezner emphasizes that fear and suspicion are most acute when the source of danger is new, as was the case with the AIDS epidemic, H1N1, and COVID-19. He asserts that reactions often depend on people’s policies for verifying information before confronting the crisis.
Drezner observes that during crises, most individuals rely on their experiences when processing incoming information, contrasting the current situation with past historical events to shape their attitudes, even if these comparisons are not complete. Simultaneously, they will ignore or suppress information that contradicts their beliefs, and will reassess previous international approaches during crises if they led to catastrophic failures.
At the decision-making level, certain behavioral traits are common among decision-makers during crises, according to Drezner. Individuals tend to act according to a logic of gain and loss. For instance, rational choice theory posits that humans have standard reactions when facing risks by weighing costs and benefits. In contrast, prospect theory suggests that individuals behave more cautiously and tend to avoid risks when they believe they are gaining ground, but they are more inclined to take risky ventures when they perceive losses.
Randomness and International Chaos:
Since the zombie scenario threatens the world as a whole upon its emergence, the book examines the nature of the international environment. The author notes a consensus on a common assumption in the context of varying international political realities: randomness is the most significant barrier to effective global responses to crises. This does not imply chaos or a lack of order; rather, it refers to a lack of centralization. Therefore, combining randomness with centralization/individuality in crisis management creates recurring patterns in how international relations respond to crises.
In this context, Drezner cites the chaos that ensued from the spread of the plague during the Roman Empire to the Black Death in the fourteenth century, culminating in the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020. These crises revealed the true character of nations, as demonstrated by both China and the United States hoarding personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the temporary withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization under Trump’s administration, due to American officials believing China was manipulating its policies.
The author contends that in a chaotic world, the only currency of importance is power, meaning the physical capacity to ward off international pressure or coerce others into submission. If a state accumulates more power, other states will feel compelled to balance against it to prevent it from dominating the world. In a chaotic global structure, governments cannot fully trust each other and resort to prioritizing their own interests while forming balanced coalitions against any rising powers to maximize their security.
Liberal Theory and Zombies:
The liberal perspective argues that international cooperation remains feasible even amid chaos, viewing global politics as a “non-zero-sum game” in contrast to their realist counterparts. It suggests that mutual cooperation on issues like international trade, nuclear non-proliferation, and pandemic prevention can result in broad global public benefits.
Though the benefits of international cooperation may not be evenly distributed, as the author notes, they improve the condition of all actors in global politics more than if policy coordination were absent. Thus, these actors will have the incentive to reap the benefits of long-term mutual cooperation while avoiding the costs associated with mutual estrangement.
Drezner points out that recent research has shown that wealthier and more powerful societies are better equipped to deal with natural disasters compared to weaker and poorer nations. For instance, U.S. strategic leadership believes that “countries with advanced and well-prepared health and agricultural systems will be better positioned to mitigate many effects of zombie phenomena should they occur.”
COVID-19 Experience and Facing Zombies:
The author connects U.S. and Chinese policies as the two main powers in the international system and how they might confront the hypothetical zombie scenario by drawing on their experiences during the COVID-19 crisis. He notes that the U.S. tends to be influenced by domestic issues, rendering it vulnerable while crafting its federal policies. In contrast, China is viewed as an institutional authoritarian state, meaning its pursuit of internal interests and personal gains of politicians would differ from that of the U.S.
Drezner presents evidence from public opinion research indicating that Americans would be willing to endure injuries and costs if they believe in the seriousness of a national security threat and the possibility of success. This would also drive them to support their political leadership. However, conversely, it can be observed that China does not pay much attention to public opinion, as its leaders do not face democratic elections. Their primary concern lies in maintaining public tranquility rather than fulfilling the people’s wishes.
The author cites the contrasting reactions of American and Chinese responses to the COVID-19 outbreak. In China, local Communist Party officials initially downplayed the pandemic in Wuhan, leading to the initial spread of the coronavirus. Once central leadership took the issue seriously, strict measures were imposed to contain the virus’s spread outside Hubei province. For a time, these measures appeared successful, although Chinese vaccines proved less effective. Conversely, former U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to diminish the perceived threat of the pandemic, whereas conservatives worked to mitigate its spread.
To Avoid the End of the World:
Drezner concludes his book by outlining a series of final recommendations, based on his expectations of how international policies might deal with the hypothetical zombie scenario. He asserts that governments and international organizations must establish new rules and methods for addressing crises more swiftly and effectively, creating general policies that everyone adheres to, while also enforcing stability during a crisis, allowing people to adapt to the situation and thereby reducing the panic affecting communities.
He also recommends bolstering multilateral cooperation and fostering a world of economic interconnectedness, democratic governments, and the establishment of international institutions. This is effectively the core of liberal thought, advocating for an open global economy to enhance robust interconnections and secure incentives for governments to collaborate.
The book concludes with a call to reassess international stances on conflicts worldwide, indicating that if conflicts obstruct effective anti-terrorism policies, it is vital to anticipate their impact on responses to the zombie scenario should it occur. He emphasizes that possessing the ability to identify the most applicable international policies—along with the timing—is more of an art than a science.
Source:
DANIEL W. DREZNER, THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS AND ZOMBIES, APOCALYPSE EDITION, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2022.
