Connection: King Lear and IR (International Relations)

Our missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Korean Peninsula, Japan, etc. are all examples of the United State's position in International Relations, or IR. We deploy a troop presence in order to maintain our interests in these nations, a few being, democracy, oil, retaining a global economy, and shutting down insurgents in the name of a "global war on terror". 

What we're essentially doing as we deploy a troop presence is make a "logical" calculation or prediction and deploy troops in order to protect our interest, and to maintain our security. This is also known as "securitization". Now many would argue that, the act of "securitization" actually instigates the very problem being "securitized" against. Let me cite some empirical examples: 

1. Iraq- we maintained a troop presence and the insurgency mission fell: terrorism initially reached unprecedented levels (not including 9/11- was a single act of terrorism in the U.S not a global ravaging of the Middle East) and we were forced to withdraw leaving our economic interests more damaged than when we arrived.

2. Korea- the conflict escalated upon U.S and Chinese intervention on the peninsula, before it remained rather isolated and because interests were put at risk, the superpower's securitizing intervention led to the war that it was (1950)

You see, securitization isn't limited to IR, it's a commonly taught lesson, that when you often try to fix things you make it worse or instigate the problem through intervention- Shakespeare recognized this and epitomized this lesson in this play.

The tragedy of King Lear stems from Lear's honest act of attempting to passing down his kingdom through heir-ship. And passing down the "inheritance" of the kingdom to Regen and Goneril was supposed to solve for a peaceful shift in power. What was the result? Absolute destruction. King Lear assumes a role in which to devolve his power and intervention to solve for a peaceful kingdom, but by his very intervention, collapses it and allows for the likes of Edmund, Regen and Goneril to be involved in this revolution. 

So as you can see, there is an incredible similarity to be made between the U.S's view on international relations and King Lear's action upon a successful division of his kingdom. They both securitize through their action and allow for their fears upon which they securitize, occur.