What would happen to international politics if the dead rose from the grave and started to eat the living? Daniel Drezner's groundbreaking book ... read full description
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Nov 22, 2011
Harrison
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I'm not entirely proud to say I read this. Still, it was far better than I expected. I honestly checked it out for the International Politics angle rather than the "braaaaains" angle. I took several courses in International Relations while in college and I always had problems keeping the distinctions between the various schools of thought straight. This book explained them in a way that made sense, and was entertaining. Still, Drezner could've gone deeper into explicating the theories
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Mar 23, 2011
Christopher
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So, you all have read the Facebook challenges about what you would do if the zombie apocalypse comes. You know what your weapons are, who your teams are. I assume you've been to the ZombieSquad webpage and built your bug-out-bags.
But what will our leaders do? How will nations act when cross-border zombie infiltration and infection becomes a problem?
This book looks to answer those questions. By surveying popular media portrayals of zombies and human responses and combining More...
But what will our leaders do? How will nations act when cross-border zombie infiltration and infection becomes a problem?
This book looks to answer those questions. By surveying popular media portrayals of zombies and human responses and combining More...
Dec 09, 2011
Artur
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No prefácio a Synthetic Worlds, Eduardo Catronova aponta para uma tradição nas ciências sociais de escolher um tema divertido ou absurdo e fazer um paper aplicando teorias e técnicas de análise metodológica, aliviando o tédio de congressos cheios de comunicações interessantes mas... áridas. No caso de Castronova a coisa resvalou e de possível artigo divertido sobre as economias dos mundos virtuais transformou-se em objecto de investigação e carreira académica.
Drezner aplica o mesmo r More...
Drezner aplica o mesmo r More...
May 31, 2011
Schnaucl
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This book is not what I expected. I think I was expecting something about how major nations would act in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Most novels are focused on a small area or even a nation but there isn't much about how the leadership of the nation would interact with other nations (if such interaction is possible). That's not what this is.
This is mostly a book about various political theories. I must admit up front that my tolerance for pure theory is pretty low. Rawl's ve More...
This is mostly a book about various political theories. I must admit up front that my tolerance for pure theory is pretty low. Rawl's ve More...
Feb 12, 2012
Kiwi
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As soon as I saw the cover for this book, I had to have it! How awesome is it? Even my sister, who has no interest in zombies, and even less interest in international politics, knew about this book. (Self-published authors take note- COVERS MATTER!)
It's all well and good knowing how to react to a zombie apocalypse on an individual level, but anyone who combines the politics and zombie nerd genes as I do will have wondered how the UN, WHO, CDC and other acronyms would react.
Dr More...
It's all well and good knowing how to react to a zombie apocalypse on an individual level, but anyone who combines the politics and zombie nerd genes as I do will have wondered how the UN, WHO, CDC and other acronyms would react.
Dr More...
Feb 19, 2012
Rich
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A great intro or primer for international relations theory with zombie movies used rather than historical case studies or current events to illustrate theories. Very informative for personnel without significant IR background and provides interesting insight into application of IR theory to 21st century security challenges (albeit somewhat superficial coverage of these topics). However those conversant with IR theory will most likely find the zombie vehicle more annoying than clever...and after
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Apr 28, 2011
Mike
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I heard an interview with the author of this book on public radio and it sounded great. Use the idea of a zombie outbreak to explain the different schools of thought in international relations. How would a neo-conservative think the world would respond to this crisis? And how does this same neo-con believe we should respond? What about those from realist or liberal schools of thought? And so forth.
Problem is, I think it made a much more interesting and funnier interview than it d More...
Problem is, I think it made a much more interesting and funnier interview than it d More...
Feb 09, 2011
Jamelle
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BIlled as just another zombie book, Dan Drezner's "Theories of International Politics and Zombies" is more of an international relations primer, for those interested in a quick and easy to understand explanation of major theories and issues in IR. It's funny, at parts, with the occasional rhetoric hiccup (for which I blame political science). And given its length and subject matter, it is best read as a companion piece to Max Brooks' "World War Z," which does an excellent job
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Jun 09, 2011
Benny
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It's quite an amusing book, and I had fun reading it. It also clarified the basic principles of some schools of international relations that I hadn't been exactly clear on. However, I think you'd have to be a) very much MORE into international relations than I am and picking up on some of the subtle cleverness of his presentation, b) very much LESS into international relations and the social sciences in general than I am, and have this as a true introduction, or c) very much more familiar with t
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Sep 01, 2011
Julie
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The premise of the book is fun, but I had a hard time getting into it. It reminded me of one of those extremely technical grad school papers with tons of footnotes and references to various other sources (but fun ones in Drezner's book, I'll admit). Drezner seemed to reference Max Brooks's "World War Z" most of all when describing various international politics topics from "the Realpolitik of the Living Dead" to "Neoconservatism and the Axis of Evil Dead," although
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Nov 13, 2011
Bridgitte
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Wow there is a lot when you scratch the surface of the zombie thing. 58 percent of philosophers believe in zombies on some level. Most of my research has drawn academic articles from philosophers... articles on consciousness, materiality, what makes us human, etc. Fascinating stuff.
I'd give this book a 3.5 if I could. I was hoping for a book that interrogated how zombie lit/film is a metaphor for social/political concerns. That's not what this book is, but it's funny. Dry humor .... More...
I'd give this book a 3.5 if I could. I was hoping for a book that interrogated how zombie lit/film is a metaphor for social/political concerns. That's not what this book is, but it's funny. Dry humor .... More...
Mar 29, 2011
beentsy
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I really enjoyed this book. The humour was dry and you could almost feel a suppressed giggle & a hand covering a smirk at some points even as he was explaining theories of policy, psychology, and international decision making. Very interesting theory on why Marxism & feminism didn't make the cut for dealing with zombies. Snort.
I'd really like to go out for a beer with Daniel Drezner & Max Brooks. Seriously, how fun would that conversation be?
I'd really like to go out for a beer with Daniel Drezner & Max Brooks. Seriously, how fun would that conversation be?
Jan 23, 2012
Anna
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The premise of the book is fun. Drezner seemed to reference Max Brooks's "World War Z" most of all when describing various international politics topics from "the Realpolitik of the Living Dead" to "Neoconservatism and the Axis of Evil Dead," although zombie authors and directors from Maberry to Romero were also mentioned. It's a short book at just over 100 pages, well-written, and a new spin on zombies: mixing it up with some political science.
Jun 21, 2011
Kathy
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Loved this! Took what would otherwise feel like rather complicated theories (i.e. realpolitik and neoconservatism) and explored them through the real life problem of zombies. The review of literature and definitions section were brilliant, especially for someone who is at heart a bit of an academic, and I loved the constant humanities style references to zombie films, boos, and music.
Aug 16, 2011
Yair
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This felt like a Cliff Notes version of a dry international text, spiked with zombies a la Grahame-Smith. It was often a bit dry and strained and nowhere near as enjoyable as, for example, World War Z, but Theories of International Politics and Zombies was still a quick enough read and laugh-out-loud funny enough in enough places I'll generously give it four stars.
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Feb 09, 2011
Shani
rated it:
Has a couple of sharp, funny moments, but is mostly silly, while trying a bit too hard to keep a straight face. Also, Drezner spends way too many pages justifying the book's existence by talking about how popular zombies are right now. Anyway, I mostly found myself wishing I were re-reading Max Brooks' World War Z (which Drezner cites frequently) instead.
Oct 19, 2011
Ruby
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If you ever wanted to know more about theories and the inner-workings of international politics, this book explains all that in a way that's not ridiculously dry (as most textbooks are). The book is easy to read and helps you remember theories through the use of zombies! :) Thank you Professor Saideman!
Jan 08, 2012
Sam
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Really fun book. Exceptionally easy to read. Wonderful primer on theories of international politics, especially for folks who don't have an existing background in political science.
Aug 01, 2011
Robin
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What an awesome book. Politics can be incredibly dry and boring & this is a great way to take the subject and (perhaps ironically) inject it with some new life.
Sep 16, 2011
Ashley
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Excellent... Read it today inbetween classes... I loved it. I love his writing style! :]
Jun 08, 2011
Niels
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Funny. Relevant. Preparation. Zombies are more likely than any Divinity crushing our Planet - just so you know.
May 26, 2011
Brian
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This will be useful for students but really a nod and a wink to those in the discipline.
Aug 01, 2011
Jennifer
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A concise and cogent primer on theories of international relations, wrapped in a witty skin of zombie research.
Sep 21, 2011
Aldeberan
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Well written, witty and, if you like dry humor, funny. Two things stole the fifth star from this piece of work. First, Drezner tends to go for cheap jokes. Second, not all international politics are included in this book (which I personally don't mind), mostly critical and post-modernist approaches.
Dec 11, 2011
Justin
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Favorite quote: "The lifestyles of the college student and zombie are eerily similar."
Dec 24, 2011
Carina
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This was absolutely amazing. Quite informative and all around well done.
May 17, 2011
Siobhan
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This is probably going to sound insane, given the subject matter, but I was hoping for something a bit more academic (it read more like a film analysis). It does make a very good companion piece to World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War though.
