What Are the Best TV Shows About International Relations?

TL;DR

The top television series that effectively illustrate international relations and global politics include 'The Expanse,' 'The West Wing,' and 'Game of Thrones.' These shows engage with themes like diplomacy, conflict, and governance while providing entertaining narratives. 'Occupied' and 'The Americans' also highlight contemporary political issues, making them significant in understanding global politics.

Transcript

Global politics and international relations is  everywhere in our daily lives--from the food we   buy at the grocery store, to the cars we drive,  and the pop culture we consume. Hey everyone. I'm   Noah Zerbe. I'm a professor of international  relations at Humboldt State University,   and today I'm counting down my top 10 television  shows that ex... Read More

Key Insights

• 🛀 Television shows can effectively illustrate concepts, theories, and issues in global politics.
• 🇪🇭 The West Wing and The Americans specifically capture Cold War tensions and political struggles.
• 🚶 Post-apocalyptic series like The Walking Dead offer insights into human nature, conflict, and cooperation.
• 🌍 Science fiction shows such as Counterpart, Star Trek, and The Expanse explore a wide range of international relations concepts.
• 🫱 Dystopian series like The Man in the High Castle prompt reflection on patriotism, war, resistance, and national boundaries.
• 🌍 Game of Thrones applies various international relations theories, including realism, liberalism, constructivism, and feminist IR theory.
• ✊ Occupied and The Expanse present future scenarios that raise questions about diplomacy, governance, and the impact of great power struggles.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does The West Wing depict global politics in an entertaining way?

The West Wing offers a mix of domestic and international episodes, addressing real-world events like the US invasion of Afghanistan, terrorism, and debates over free trade. It presents these concepts and theories in an entertaining and optimistic manner, although its focus on domestic politics limits its ranking on the list.

Q: How does The Walking Dead relate to global politics?

While the series primarily focuses on survival in a post-apocalyptic world, it indirectly raises questions about human nature, conflict, cooperation, and the struggle for survival. The show provides excellent discussion points for understanding global politics through the lens of a zombie apocalypse.

Q: What concepts in international relations does The Americans explore?

The Americans, set during the Cold War, delves into the tensions and espionage between the Soviet Union and the United States. It covers historical events like the Soviet war in Afghanistan and US military operations in Nicaragua, while also drawing connections to modern-day espionage incidents.

Q: How does Occupied portray the future of transatlantic relations in a period under stress?

Occupied presents a thought-provoking scenario where the US withdraws from NATO, resulting in an energy crisis and enabling a soft occupation of Norway by Russia. The show explores themes of diplomacy, occupation, governance, and the politics of energy, providing insight into the future of transatlantic relations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The professor lists The West Wing as a political drama that explores global politics, including topics like terrorism, free trade, and the HIV/AIDS crisis.

• MASH is a dark comedy series that provides commentary on the Cold War and American foreign policy during the Korean War.

• The Walking Dead, a post-apocalyptic horror series, touches on themes of human nature, conflict, and cooperation in a world devastated by a zombie plague.

• Counterpart, a science fiction thriller, draws parallels to the Cold War and raises social commentary on contemporary global issues.

• The Americans, a period spy thriller, captures Cold War tensions and espionage while also addressing modern-day espionage events.

• Occupied, a Norwegian political thriller, explores themes of diplomacy, occupation, governance, and the politics of energy and oil in a near-future setting.

• The Man in the High Castle, a dystopian alternative history series, examines themes of patriotism, war, resistance, and national boundaries.

• Game of Thrones, a fantasy series, contains numerous examples of international relations concepts and theories, including diplomacy, war, and feminist IR theory.

• Star Trek series, with their various iterations, illustrate a range of international relations concepts, from the balance of power to human rights and cooperation.

• The Expanse, a science fiction series, serves as a political thriller exploring themes of diplomacy, governance, the human condition, and great power struggles.