Balance in the Force: Star Wars as a cultural critique of U.S. manifest destiny

The Star Wars film franchise is a global cultural behemoth, earning immense sums at the box office, inspiring a plethora of merchandise, and providing fertile material for political and social analogies of all kinds. But what does Star Wars itself have to say about global politics, and in particular about the foreign policy of the United States? In this lecture I argue that we should understand pop-cultural artifacts like Star Wars as participating in a broad public dialogue about appropriate action, and not merely as entertaining diversions from the serious business of social and political life. As a film franchise born in the United States, it is no surprise that Star Wars takes a stance with respect to the central myth of the United States: manifest destiny, or the notion that the United States is uniquely chosen for a global mission that it must, and should, pursue at almost any cost. Star Wars presents a counter-myth rooted in the idea of balance, and featuring immense skepticism about “chosen ones” of all kinds.

Patrick Thaddeus Jackson is Professor of International Studies at the School of International Service, American University, Washington, D.C. His research focuses on international relations theory, the philosophy of social science, and the role of culture and ideas in global politics. His publications explore how political identities, historical narratives, and philosophical assumptions shape our understanding of international affairs. Drawing on his interdisciplinary approach to international relations, his public lecture Balance in the Force: Star Wars as a Cultural Critique of U.S. Manifest Destiny examines how popular culture can challenge dominant political narratives and offer alternative perspectives on U.S. foreign policy.

Professor Jackson is visiting Tallinn University at the invitation of the Centre of Excellence in Life Course, Wellbeing, and Open Society Studies (TEHA) at the School of Governance, Law and Society (SOGOLAS). During his visit, he will also deliver a masterclass titled Relationalisms in Theory, Methodology, and Explanatory Strategy. For more information about the masterclass, please click here.