James Bond & IR Theories
It is not a secret that 007 has always followed the world’s geopolitical situation. Whether in the very beginning of the cinematographic adaptation or in its new release in 2015, geopolitical concerns have always been part of the story.For instance, it is obvious with Dr. No in 1962, in which James Bond’s adventures illustrate the Missiles Crisis dealing with nuclear bomb against the vilain. In 1980 James Bond fight against the Head of the drug cartel in Mexico. Similarly, Reagan declared his fight against Mexico’s biggest drug cartel. Therefore, using financial scandals, environmental and security issues, industrial traffics and diplomatic tensions in its plot, James Bond’s fate is definitely embedded with the world’s current events. So does Specter in 2015. Indeed, the film is highlighting one of the biggest 21st century’s major threat i.e. Terrorist organization reword the sentence.
James Bond Specter offers a compelling parallel to the current terrorism attacks happening in the world. Indeed, in Specter, the Hero discovers the existence of a sinister secret organization by killing one of its old members. several members constitute this organization. The group has initiated couples of wrongdoings and have secretly interfered and telescoped their actions in James Bond’s world.
Specter threatened the world with bombs. It also especially threatened James bond’s loved ones. The symbol of specter is a ring engraved with an octopus. This is somehow reminiscent of a certain terrorist threat haunting the world today. Al Qaida has been operating underground for a long time. Its actions have been eased by their network. Besides, Al Qaida’s face was and still remains the one of the octopus thanks to its extended network. In this way, we can draw a comparison between Specter and Al Qaida. As Specter has also threatened the world with bombs and terrorist attacks, it can be compared to a giant octopus as well. Specter uses its members to expand its power. By expanding its black power on several countries through diverse regional channels, Al Qaida looks like Specter. In both case, the goal is to hurt international and local places. Each of the tentacles of Specter could then symbolize a particular terrorist organization of Al Qaida itself such as ISIS, AQI, AQMI,Al-Nosra. Moreover,ISIS and Specter use highly technological materials to achieve their goals. The use of surveillance techniques by Specter is highly developed. They are then able to cyberattack the informatics system such as the famous MI6 department.
As James bond uncovers the mystery of the Specter organization, he discovers the close link between his life and specter . Therefore James bond’s feelings represent the feelings of victims of terrorist attacks.
During the film, James Bond and the MI6 leaders emphasize the importance of setting up a global security collaboration. This collaboration consists on the economic and political linkages between countries. Therefore, due to complex interdependence of countries and fear against the threat, the liberalism theory of IR seems to be the best option. Indeed, the cooperation strategy could help any country to deal with the menace of terrorism.
Then, James Bond also experienced another IR school of thoughts, i.e. Realism. The War logic functions permanently in the mind of James Bond. In the heart of the action James Bond is evolving in a deep realist world. Indeed, he has to complete the mission by himself because Specter has infiltrated the MI6. It definitely made me think about the realism approach. James bond was independent in an anarchic and uncertain world. He is scared of the threat. Moreover, he is particularly aware that this environment leads him to face the 9-1-1 problem. The organization is brutish and only considers its self-interests.This behavior provokes James Bond to confront Specter. Therefore, the war between James Bond and Specter was simply a rational pursuit of previous actions ordered by his beloved chief — aka M. Hence Karl Von Clausewitz sentence « War is the only continuation of policy by other means » is totally appropriate here.
Lastly, at the end of the film (spolier alert), James Bond develops a constructivist attitude by sparing his adversary’s life. Consequently, this choice furthers the evolution of identity in both Specter and James Bond. Since James Bond spares the life of Specter’s leader. Their interaction will be less agressive in the future. In this way, we can assume that constructivists would say that « specter’s violence is what James Bond makes of it ». Their inevitable conflictual interaction has changed their identity and interests. Now, the same step is expected from Specter to pursue their understanding.
To put it in a nutshell, James Bond’s basic story crosses the ages to provide a realist fiction of the world’s situation. It touches the heart of the theory of IR. Since James Bond’s evokes different IR schools of thought corresponding to the situation. By offering policy recommandations and potential solutions to our international issues, 007 is undeniably representative of IR’s theories.