We're undergoing an onslought of the undead these days -- zombies, vampires, werewolves, and their ilk. According to author Daniel W Drezner, it's just one more crime to shovel onto those responsible for 7/7 and 9/11.
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I was in the Boston area the other day and picked up Theories of International Politics and Zombies on display at the Harvard Coop. It's a tongue-in-cheek, but serious, mash-up textbook published by Princeton University Press. This small tome's also an excellent way to brush up on your political theory while ruminating over zombie culture.
Theories tackles the authorities' reactions to infection across the political spectrum -- from Western democracies to police states. Its author predicts American neocons to lobby for an attack on their old standby, Iraq as well as setbacks caused by civil rights groups demanding protection for their formerly human compatriots.
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The book also provides a humorous review of the popular zombie literature and movies. Not unsurprisingly, not all zombies were created equal. In early appearances, the undead, such as those in Night of the Living Dead (1968, B&W; 1990, colour), were portrayed as dumb as doorknobs and deathly slow. But by the time they hit London in 28 Days Later (2002), they're faster, and much angrier. And, at least some of the American afflicted in Zombieland (2009) have acquired the ability to open doors -- potentially a big improvement over the old smash-and-grab standby.
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Infection rates have always been close to a standard 100%, although incubation times vary from a few seconds (eg, 28 Days Later [2002]) to several hours (eg, Night of the Living Dead [1968, B&W; 1990, colour]). Human responses to the ghouls are expected to vary, based on factors such as motivation and nationality. For example, the zombification of a former loved one my be hidden or denied. And Americans are generally more vociferous upon discovery of an infestation that the British, who tend not to want to cause a bother. However, whatever their nationality, when push comes to bite, ordinary humans, such as Shawn in Shawn of the Dead (2004) and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, generally manage to take charge and organize a resistance against the zombie menace.
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One theme that remains unchanged throughout the zombie literature is organizational incompetence. Especially in government organizations. Most are incapable of thinking outside the box, or even acknowledging that they face an situation requiring a non-standard response. For example, in World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, when a general is stricken and a soldier takes the initiative of killing this new zombie, he is killed before he can carry out the task.
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Why not check Theories of International Politics and Zombies out? It may spur you into reading Max Brooks' World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, whose film version is expected to be released next year. Or you may want to take in a few movies, some of Romero's Dead franchise, or one of the two 28s.
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