Harry Potter and International Relations

Daniel H Nexon editor Iver B Neumann editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Rowman & Littlefield

Published:25th May '06

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Harry Potter and International Relations cover

Why not take seriously the claim that Harry Potter's world intertwines with our own? In this timely yet otherworldly volume, more than a dozen scholars of international relations join hands to demonstrate how this well-loved artifact of popular culture reflects and shapes our own lifeworld. A wide range of historical and sociological sources shows how Harry's world contains aspects of our own. Practices such as quidditch dovetail quite clearly with 'muggle' sports, and the very British-ness of the books has, in translation into languages such as Turkish and Arabic, been transformed to reflect these unique cultures. Chapters on the political economy of the franchise as well as the scholarly problems of studying popular culture frame what is essentially a highly info-taining read.

This accessible and original volume will challenge both Harry Potter fans and students of world politics to think more deeply and critically about different forms of engagement between popular culture and world politics. Drawing on 'enjoyable evidence' from the Harry Potter universe, this diverse yet coherent collection of essays draws on one of western culture’s quintessential commercial mega-texts to demonstrate that our understanding of world politics can be significantly and agreeably expanded by delving into the riches of popular culture. -- Jutta Weldes, University of Bristol, U.K.
Nexon and Neumann explore an underdeveloped area of Harry Potter scholarship in a collection of essays covering a wide range of political and cultural topics. In a post-9/11world, international relations is a critical area of inquiry. Their book is a valuable contribution to the growing body of scholarly attention to the boy wizard and the magician who created him. -- Lana Whited, Ferrum College
A landmark in muggle studies. * The Daily Prophet *
Broaden[s] the contextual basis for thinking about international relations theory to encompass popular culture as well as political experience.... Contributes to the literature that explores how popular culture molds national identity and how aspects of local culture may clash with the process of globalization. * International Studies Review *
Armed with this volume, scholars who study or teach international relations will be better able to mine the works of Rowling for insights, analogies, comparisons, and examples. -- Robert L. Pfaltzgraff, Jr., The Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis * International Studies Review *
Because of the quality of the insights that this book achieves in examining the relationship between culture and international relations, we as International Relations scholars can read Harry Potter and justify it as 'research.' * International Affairs *

ISBN: 9780742539594

Dimensions: 227mm x 163mm x 18mm

Weight: 390g

224 pages