Toward a rational policy on the zombie threat to humanity

It's said everyone has at least one stroke of genius in his or her lifetime; unless Daniel W. Drezner actually is a genius his analysis of how the major U.S. foreign policy schools would deal with a massed attack from the undead is just that.

Writing for Foreign Policy Drezner, a professor of international politics at Tufts University's Fletcher School, introduces the theme of his forthcoming book Theories of International Politics and Zombies, with an analysis of how Realpolitik, Liberal, and Neoconservative wonks would tackle the zombie problem.

I don't want to spoil anyone's fun so I hesitate to add that the analysis is educational. The fascination with zombies is no joke; it's a worldwide phenomenon -- something I didn't know until I read Night of the Living Wonks. Yet instead of pooh-poohing those who are never quite happy unless scared half-witless over nothing at all Drezner grabbed at the chance to breathe life, if you'll pardon the expression, into the subject of international relations.

Hilarity is the result -- and a reminder during these dark days that the human race didn't get this far by being a complete idiot. Hat's off to Daniel Drezner's stroke of genius or just plain genius, as the case may be.

Here's the draft table of contents from the book, which will be published December 2010 by Princeton University Press:

INTRODUCTION.... TO THE UNDEAD

THE ZOMBIE LITERATURE

DEFINING A ZOMBIE

DISTRACTING DEBATES ABOUT FLESH-EATING GHOULS

THE REALPOLITIK OF THE LIVING DEAD

REGULATING THE UNDEAD IN A LIBERAL WORLD ORDER

NEOCONSERVATISM AND THE AXIS OF EVIL DEAD

THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF ZOMBIES

THE SECOND IMAGE: ARE ALL ZOMBIE POLITICS LOCAL?

BUREAUCRATIC POLITICS: THE "PULLING AND HAULING" OF ZOMBIES

WE'RE ONLY HUMAN: PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO THE UNDEAD

CONCLUSION.... OR SO YOU THINK