In Chapter 2, Cynthia Weber sets out to deconstruct Kenneth Waltz's myth “international anarchy is the permissive cause of war” (14). Waltz examines a three-part system when trying to explain why wars occur. This system begins with the individual, proceeds to the state, and concludes with the international system. In Man, the State, and War, Waltz argues that anarchy creates war, focusing on individual human nature and the likelihood for men to “behave badly.” Men “behaving badly,” of course, leads to insecure social organizations, therefore introducing anarchy within a sovereignty. However, in his later discourse, Theory of International Politics,Waltz extends his myth of anarchy to the international arena (16). Weber is quick to point out one element missing from Waltz's claim: fear. Through her analysis of the film The Lord of the Flies, Weber demonstrates that fear is a necessary element leading to anarchy.
Anarchy is established the moment the boys crash on the island. No adults are present, and the boys act quickly to conform to a more hierarchical system that they're familiar with. The first order of business is to elect leaders, and Jack and Ralph are chosen to represent the others. Next, the boys decide that, since they are Englishmen, they should create and follow rules. “After all, we're not savages,” one of the boys says. A conch shell found on the beach becomes the symbol for law and order, as only he who holds the conch is permitted to speak. Finally, the boys begin to organize themselves into groups. Thus far, the boys have reacted to anarchy very characteristically, trying to make sense of the illogical. Their human nature initially reminds them that it is in their best interest to work together. However, as time passes and the boys lose hope for rescue, Jack's intentions change, and he turns his mode of action from rescue to survival. When this breakdown of unity occurs, it is accompanied by a new element, the element of fear.
As Jack's team now focuses on hunting boar and finding sustenance for survival, Ralph and Piggy in particular are ostracized for focusing on waiting for rescue. A deep divide occurs between the two factions when Jack's team is out killing a boar in the jungle as a plane flies overhead on the beach. Jack's boys, caught up in the killing, let the signal fire go out, probably preventing the plane from seeing the stranded boys. A whole host of negative emotions – anger, dissent, blame, failure – flood Ralph and it is evident that the two groups are no longer working toward a common goal. It is at this point in the movie when fear rears its ugly head. While out killing, Jack's boys claim to see a beast. This new threat weakens any chance of the group working together. Once fear is introduced, the boys revert to what Waltz talks about first, man's selfish, and sometimes “bad” behaviors.
Jack is representative of your typical megalomaniac, who clearly abuses the power bestowed upon him. He throws bananas at Ralph and Piggy as the others eat boar; he takes Piggy's glasses by force, a very war-like maneuver; and he discredits the rules by ignoring the conch. Worst of all, he stands back as one of his boys pushes a rock over, killing Piggy, the voice of reason in the tale. By this point, anarchy has become fully-actualized, and the boys seem to have forgotten their initial intentions – to get rescued. Jack has taken on the position as a tribal leader, and he now seems to hold all of the power, as Ralph has retreated into the jungle since he is outnumbered.
Anarchy quickly gives way to the hierarchy the boys were previously accustomed to when a Naval officer appears on the beach with a boat, ready to rescue the boys. The camera pans to the faces of both Jack and Ralph. Jack appears quite defeated, and Ralph offers a sly smile. Ralph promoted working together more than anyone, and in the end, he was all alone. However, he managed to survive as easily as did Jack and his boys. Regardless of the outcome, it is evident that fear played a major part in the anarchy which abounded on the island. Waltz states that “anarchy is the permissive cause of war,” but as Weber claims, “anarchy alone is insufficient to cause or even allow for conflict. Anarchy requires fear to differentiate the behavior of those acting within it from their behavior within anarchy” (31).
Work Cited
Weber, Cynthia.International Relations Theory: A Critical Introduction. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Routledge, 2005.
No comments:
Post a Comment