International relations on film / Robert W. Gregg.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 287-295) and index.

Includes filmography: pages 261-286.

Understanding international relations: the role of films -- The dilemma of sovereignty -- Nationalism and its discontents -- Civil strife and intervention -- Espionage and subversion -- Decisionmaking and crisis management -- The tragedy of war -- Economic interdependence and development -- Ethics and international law -- The clash of cultures -- The domestic roots of international relations -- Epilogue.

This exploration of the ways in which feature films depict the various aspects of international relations considers the utility of the feature film as a vehicle to dramatize issues and events, challenge conventional wisdom, rouse an audience to anger, and even revise history. The author makes a strong case for the value of films as a window on the real world of international relations. Focusing on ten issues--each the subject of a chapter--he provides an overview of each, discusses the major concepts that have been employed by scholars to understand and explain it, and points to the trends that have characterized the evolution of international relations in the area. In each case, he cites feature films and then uses them to illustrate the ways in which popular culture has illuminated those concepts and trends. An appendix of the approximately 125 films discussed in the text provides a brief summary of contents and relevance, as well as information about directors, casts, dates of release, et cetera.