The Real ‘Game of Thrones’
Unless you’ve been stranded on an uninhabited island without internet access, you’ll probably agree that HBO’s fantasy drama series Game of Thrones, which aired from April 2011 to May 2019, became a global phenomenon— reaching audiences in over 70 countries. The series garnered a massive and dedicated fan base, with viewership peaking at tens of millions per episode across all platforms until the final season, which averaged 43 million viewers per episode.
This article discusses what would qualify as a ‘real-life’ Game of Thrones that unfolds daily on planet Earth. Granted, the cast performing the scenes does not primarily consist of breathtakingly talented British thespians. Instead, the game is played by the elected or imposed leaders of actual countries, who are poorly qualified to lead anything. The consequences of each episode often result in real-life death and destruction.
Modern history exemplifies an effort to unite nations in promoting peace. The League of Nations, established in January 1920, was the first global intergovernmental organization dedicated to world peace. It emerged from the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, which concluded World War I. The unintended yet logical consequence was the creation of conditions that would lead to World War II— 19 years later. The United Nations (UN), the second global intergovernmental organization focused on world peace, which still convenes today, is just as ineffective as its predecessor. Established in October 1945 at the end of World War II, it is evident that none of the 51 founding member governments were represented by serious students of history.
Rather than the seven kingdoms on the continent of Westeros, which are portrayed as a myriad of political conflicts among noble families competing for the throne or striving for independence from it, we have our modern interpretation of kingdoms — nations — each contesting to obtain what they believe is more than what they currently possess. What is troubling about the latest episode of our world is that the four nations that have been described as an Evil Empire— China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea— have publicly formed an alliance. This alliance is a vivid example of the phrase, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” None of its members wish their allies to succeed; they all seek to achieve their own world domination. The contemporary version of the game symbolizes the conflict between civilized life and life under an authoritarian ruler— which translates to a form of barbarism.
Instead of merely complaining about the state of our world, here is a plausible argument to eliminate the existing threat of the current Evil Empire.
People living in countries run by authoritarian regimes still likely view the United States as the city on a hill by people in countries governed by authoritarian regimes. However, after four years of a U.S. President struggling with diminished capacity and relinquishing his authority to unelected appointees, the world’s most significant power has become vulnerable to enemies emboldened in their tactics.
The current president is actively engaged in fulfilling the promises that got him elected. Hopefully, he will be successful. If he falls short, the next president will hopefully take the torch to govern for the people.
It may be helpful to revisit history. When the world was primarily made up of city-states, these city-states consistently waged wars against one another to expand their territories. For thousands of years since then, scoundrels have persisted in every country, driven solely by their desires or compulsions. Fortunately, in ancient Greece, a few enlightened individuals recognized the liberating promise of equal justice under the law. This system functioned effectively until it was overthrown by a more brutal nation.
During his heyday, however, Philip II of Macedonia formed the League of Corinth, an alliance of Greek city-states pledged to protect each other against the Persian Empire. After Philip’s death, Alexander the Great continued as the leader of the League, as he conquered much of the Mediterranean world. Part of his mission was to civilize the world through education.
Here’s an idea for the new president or his successor: Create a list of all democratic republics and nations governed by democratic parliaments and invite each one to the White House to discuss forming an Alliance of Democracies.
Many more democratic nations could unite to form a powerful coalition to curtail authoritarian governments' capacities to generate capital and pose a threat to the world. The Alliance would not be a geographic alliance like NATO, but would be to defend against authoritarian governments. Russia invaded Ukraine to prevent it from aligning with the West as a NATO member. A global military alliance of 50 nations promoting reforms and inspiring new democracies would be a powerful motivator for an authoritarian to reconsider his aggressive behavior.
