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Independence Day Film Analysis

1335 Words6 Pages

Even where they appear as entirely nonpolitical, movies tend to inevitably have political messages. However, the notably evident aspect in numerous films is their tendencies to integrate liberal ideas. Using the film, Independence Day directed by Roland Emmerich, the current essay examines the themes related to conditions under which liberal ideals can influence elite policy-makers in achieving rational foreign policy decision-making. Several relevant themes are likely to emerge in films pointing towards the liberal tendencies or otherwise among elite policy-makers that contribute in promoting greater international experience. Even though in an indirect manner, it is common for American films to exhibit liberal ideals that are likely to provide …show more content…

From these, liberal ideals are portrayed to have two main strands with one founded on liberal nationalism while the other on liberal internationalism (Reitan 43). The rational foreign policy approach that that elite policy-makers can consider when confronted with an international hurdle would be similar to the approach adopted in the film. By first securing themselves, the focus is first given to the maintenance of the national sovereignty and the security of liberal institutions at home. In that case, foreign policy should begin with liberal nationalism. Such was evident in the movie as the United States began by securing itself (Reitan 43). It is after overpowering the invading aliens that the strand of liberal internationalism arises, as it extends to the international community to share information on the crucial vulnerability of the invaders. As Reitan exhibited, there are sufficiently compelling reasons for the United States to embrace liberal internationalism. With US corporations involved in far-flung markets, the United States is dependent on success and peace in other markets, and it would thus be rational for the United States to see itself as the protector of other countries against the destruction by the alien …show more content…

The same is evident in the film, Independence Day, as sharing the critical vulnerability that other countries can use to overcome the alien invasion would benefit American interests abroad (Desch 17). Considering the position that the United States assume in the film, a notable theme that arises relates to the notion of ‘soft power’. Evidently, ‘soft power has the potential of occupying a distinct position in the nation’s foreign policy. To an extent, such is possible based on the manner that the country is positioned in the normative struggle on the role that the US plays in the World system (Eriksson and Norman 425). It is argued that ‘soft power’ that the United States had amassed, the popularity of the American culture and the attraction of it played a part in the nation’s victory in the Cold War. The notion of ‘soft power’ as can be derived from the film has the country gain the ability to get what it wants through attraction instead of coercion. Such applies to the film considering the advantaged position that the United States gain by establishing the critical vulnerability in the alien ship. By sharing this new-gotten knowledge, the United States would be enabling other countries to defeat the rest of the destroyer ships (Eriksson and Norman 426). Such set the basis of the ‘soft power’ that the United States develop as it begins shaping the preferences

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