The fifth season of Game of Thrones are available today.
The series belongs fantasy genre, stamped as extremely unrealistic. Groups of pupils and students are, however, deeply fascinated by this and similar popular culture genres.
The same fascination comes rarely syllabus their social studies. But the two are not necessarily inconsistent sizes.
Successes like Harry Potter , Lord of the Rings , Hunger Games , Star Trek and Star Wars reflects and puts at the tip central social science theme. The quickening and creates commitment.Religious sects with magical abilities
Game of Thrones uses fantasy genre instrument.
The action takes place within a fictional universe, without reference to the time and place in our world. The seasons last over several years. Frame so far is the equivalent of summer. But we keep hearing that “Winter is coming.” Zombie-like White Walkers raging north of the border. Daenerys Targa Ryan dragons among their weapons and another clan influenced by a religious sect with magical abilities.
This is not necessarily so reality distant.
dragons mass destruction. The parallel to US short-term monopoly on nuclear weapons after WW2, or Israel’s current regional monopoly in the Middle East, is striking. Religion has gained increasing importance in international politics after the Cold War.
Winter and White Walkers are external threats that threaten all clans in Westeros. When they are unable to relate to them it reminds our challenges to achieve effective cooperation on global climate change.
Rival clans
The game of Iron Throne initiated when king dies under mysterious circumstances. Succession is unclear, and several rival clans sees his chance. Protagonists are very humane. They are different by nature, complex and often turns from new, surprising aspects.
What they have in common is that all trades within the merciless rules that are set.
It may seem like the classic realists of political theory has stood for the manuscript. Their faith in ideals and integrity is extremely limited.
Prince emphasized renaissance politician Niccolo Machiavelli importance of exchange between the strategic use of brute force (“Lions”) and strip (“foxes”) to ensure the prince and state interests. A manager who strives goodness in all his works, is doomed. Virtue is the ability to achieve results in a brutal world.
In a typical fantasy would we expected a hero who defends the very good case and eventually overcomes all obstacles – and villains. But already in the first season of Game of Thrones we are witnessing that the expected hero Ned Stark effectively be killed off.
The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes diagnosed the anarchic state of society without any superior authority as a constant “war of all against.” The life of the individual would be lonely, impoverished, disgusting, brutal – and cards.
In Game of Thrones witnesses we see how a seemingly hierarchical and stable kingdom transforms into an ultra violent anarchy on short time. The elements of raw violence and brutal sex also breaks with genre expectations about romance and epic, bloodless “action” as in Lord of the Rings .
Sudden collapse and shocking raw civil wars in our own time in states like Yugoslavia, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya or Somalia remind us constantly about how fragile formation of the states can be.
The perfect metaphor
The anarchy and brutality are less within the Democratic routine policy. But there are parallels, as fan and former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard wrote in an article in The Guardian in 2014.
After what she characterizes as a “coup attempt” in March 2013, she was then also met at office with posters adorned sword fighting and liberator Daenerys rallying cry: “What we say to god of death? Not today. “
Nederlands Secretary Frans Timmermans selected in a lecture in 2013 to use Game of Thrones to illustrate Europe’s challenges.
The series captured the zeitgeist more than anything he had ever seen.
It was the perfect metaphor for where Europe stands as society, with resolution tendencies, internal strife and fear of external threats one thought one had put behind themselves for good.
Violence Strike and deterrence
If we replace clans with states can move in Westeros also regarded as a parallel to the international system.
Modern realists is particularly concerned that in the absence of an overarching global authority states no other choice than to rely on themselves. But it is not necessarily an aggressive strategy that always gives the best results.
Good managers play alternately on violence and deterrence, or alliances and cunning diplomacy towards other states, depending on what the situation requires and what means one disposal. Virtue of leaders is to use instruments to ensure the safety and interests of their own. In that way, just “virtuous” Ned Stark a “udydig” leader.
Lannister clan currently has tightened its grip on the Iron Throne through a strategy based on classic Machiavellian realism, with alternation of violence, cunning alliances and betrayals . The wily “reefs” is most evident in the two characters without opportunities to win by using violence; Vary and “Little Finger”. Ned Stark clan misled by thoughts of revenge against Lannister. They show a fatal lack of list by breaking marriage agreement that would ensure the alliance with Walder Frey. The result is a shocking slaughter of most of the clan members at the end of series 3.
But the series is not quite true to the pessimistic, realistic format. Daenerys Targa Ryan is emerging as a possible idealistic character when she protects women against abuse and frees slaves. She also wins massive popular support for it.
The American scientist Joseph Nye uses the term “soft power” of the ability to convince and inspire. This can be just as important as “hard power”. The winner will be the athlete of “smart power”; the one who knows when the two different types of power should be exercised or combined.
Daenerys Targa Ryan hesitates nor using hard power if necessary. But her ultimate destiny is not determined.
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