Introduction
The topic or aspects of power dynamics have always been significant factors in the successful interactions between societies, countries, and groups. Correa and Thomas 2018 argue that using different leadership approaches contributes to the balance of powers within an organization. Therefore, this relationship has played a major role in militarization and leaders’ decisions when in conflict. Through a critical lens, this study discusses in depth how militarization is employed in “Avatar,” a movie released in 2009 and directed by James Cameron. This is among the films that promote militarisation for different aspects of power as the antagonists clash with the protagonists. This sci-fi film presents an alien world that human organizations exploit for valuable resources. While the indigenous inhabitants protect their planet, the movie portrays the militarization of humans to exploit the resources by subduing the alien race. Similar movies where military intervention is championed to include the individual from the society create imagination and ideas of the importance of militaristic intervention. According to Giroux (2017), militarization involves the use of military procedures and structures to make decisions preparing to engage in violence. The films demonstrate the power dynamic contributing to a culture accepting military practices and values. Therefore, analyzing power dynamics is fundamental to understanding its impact on society (Pardy, 2016). This paper further analyzes militarization in “avatar” and how it contributes to geopolitical imaginaries that enable acceptance of the military needs in ending conflict and result in the balance of power using a combination of analytical lenses.
Movie Synopsis
With incredible visual and compelling narration, the audience’s imagination is taken to a distant moon called Pandora, where humans have discovered an alien world. He is following the protagonist’s journey, Jake Sully, a retired marine recruited by the Resources Development Administration (RDA), which runs the Avatar program. Although he is paralyzed, through the Avatar program, he can walk by controlling the genetic Na’vi bodies. Therefore, with these bodies, this individual, including Jake, infiltrates and interacts with the alien community to gather information. The Navi avatar is a strategy RDA uses to seek the location of unobtanium, a valuable resource (Michelle et al., 2012). Jake can create a bond with the community, resulting in an intimate relationship with one of the aliens, Neytiri. This interaction also helps realize the true intentions of the RDA in using military force to extract resources without regard for the alien community. Ultimately, Jake joins the war to protect the community against the invasive force of the RDA military power. As a result, the movie illustrates the impact of militarization and reed from corporate organizations. It also depicts how communities ultimately engage in military conflicts and the play on power dynamics (Tuathail, G. 1999). The indigenous community was forced to use military strategy in fighting the innovation, which had a significant impact on the environment. The movie promotes military power as it was used in colonizing less developed countries.
Militarization
Monaghan (2012) suggests that the idea of using the military as a solution is discussed by leaders, and society is influenced to acknowledge the needs and, therefore, participate in the activity believing the course is just. Enloe (2000) argues that the normalization of militarization includes relying on the military to solve conflict and presuming the need for military intervention practices and values. In most cases, perceived threat plays a significant role in militarization, especially in the armament. For instance, the threat of attack, as experienced in the past, plays a major role in promoting a country’s armed forces and security detail. For instance, after the 9/111 terror attack in the United States, the perceived level of attack increased, leading to a boost to the military capability of the country (Dittmer, 2005). Similarly, Israel funds its military practices because of the high level of threats, especially from the neighbouring countries (Hartung & Benjamin, 2023). In most cases, the balance of power and terrorism has fueled the process of militarization in society—the militaristic ideas championed by key leaders in the society, including the politicians.
In Avatar, the RDA uses advanced technology to execute militaristic strategies to exploit the resources. In addition, this organization has employed security details to protect operations on the ground, including minding and transporting resources. This militaristic approach invokes ideas that most organization team members have, which leads to the marginalization of locals and adverse effects on the environment. Na’vi people, through the help of the Avatars, including Jake, also employ a militaristic approach in retaliating against the military for the organization. Therefore, an idea of the importance of military intervention is enhanced. Diverse ideas are used to justify the use of military intervention. In most cases, the dynamics of power play a significant role. As seen in Avatar, the corporate organization backed up with resources uses this power to take advantage and attack the indigenous individuals.
Analytical Lens
There are diverse approaches to deriving the perspective of militarization and the power dynamics in different aspects of society. The push to use military agenda and practice has a long historical approach that can best be described using a post-colonial lens. In addition, using a critical constructivist lens helps explore the cultural and societal factors that contribute to conflict and the decision to employ military intervention. These lenses are fundamental in analyzing the concept of dynamics of power, especially in creating an understanding of the justification of the use of militaristic strategies.
Critical Constructivist Lens
According to Jackson and McDonald (2009), critical constructivism indicates that the world’s perspective is influenced by diverse factors surrounding an individual, including socioeconomic, cultural, and political factors. Therefore, this approach questions alternative discourse and understands the origin cause of class, race, and societal standards. Therefore, this lens is fundamental in understanding the dynamics of power.
Using this approach to analyze the film “Avatar,” one can deduce the normalization of militarization as a just and only way of engaging with different communities. It helps identify the connection between power and cultural identities. This movie identifies the use of the military, including the armed forces, as heroic and recommendable. By examining the cultural and discursive practices, this analysis identifies that corporate organizations had no choice in engaging the military in exploiting the discovered resources. One can identify the structures of power and ideas embedded in this narration. In addition, the movie, through its narrative, has normalized the use of force against a primitive society of indigenous aliens. A socio-political aspect is also revealed depicting how militarization is a major factor justified in promoting military practices (Norton, 2003).
Avatar has constructed and reinforced power and discourse in the real world. Military power is enhanced as a necessary approach to meeting the human group’s objective (Jackson, 2007). Therefore, they must explore and guard their interests using the armed forces and technological armament. This movie promotes and normalizes militarization in seeking power and profits.
Postcolonial lens
The postcolonial lens also derives meaning from the social constructions, especially those that foster domination and hierarchy. Abrahamsen (2007) indicates that the dehumanization of one group of individuals over the other is a significant trait of this lens, especially in racial or class lines. The critical race aligns with postcolonialism where one group is perceived as superior. Therefore, initiating a military rule promoted as a result creating a dominating power over the subject, similar to the European colonization of the Africans (Eriksson & Verweijen. 2018).
In “Avatar,” the aspect of colonialism is demonstrated by the RDA taking advantage of its military forces and power to invade and exploit natural resources, a phenomenon used by the Europeans. This film depicts the power struggles between the local indigenous group who are colonized and the colonizers (Giroux, 2017). The use of force is enhanced in the movie as an effective approach to dominating the people. Exploring the colonial themes devolves into imperialism, a major power factor. Besides aspect of social-political consequences of colonization are also identified as a result of militarization. The rise of resistance to gain independence and freedom is a major factor in this film’s development. These power dynamics are promoted in the film. The rise of freedom also resulted in the use of military intervention was also justified in seeking freedom from the oppressors, similar to the colonized nation as seen at the end of colonization.
The postcolonial perspective promotes oppressive and imperialist ideas. In most cases, colonization is associated with domination, and the colonizers identify the weaker group as primitive and backward. As in the case of Avatar, the primitive Aliens were not only an obstacle but a force to be conquered. The difference in power between these groups significantly contributes to socio-political implications. The film identifies the unequal power distribution as justified through the military forces’ coercive strategy.
Analysis
The narrative and visual effects used in creating “Avatar” promote and justify using a military approach in solving conflicts and meeting one’s agenda, especially between diverse groups. The humans in this movie employ colonization to achieve corporate goals. Therefore, the conflict between this fictional group and the Na’vi team member militarist approach reinforces the idea of using violence (Jenkins, 2013). Critical constructivism and postcolonial views provide a focal point for analyzing how this film promotes a perspective that normalizes military practices and ideologies in society.
While the Na’vi are seen as backward individuals, they are portrayed to have a rich culture as compared to the technologically advanced humans who aim at colonizing the environment for profit gains. The movie portrays the alien planet as a resourceful and unexplored area ready to be conquered and colonized. The movie, therefore, justifies militarization with the humans being the aggressors (Monaghan, 2012). The company deciding for the invasion has indicated that their cation to invade the alien is necessary and the most effective approach for advancing human interest. As a result, the Na’vi are indicated as the victim and must, therefore, engage in the fight to defend and protect their planet. Their decision to engage in conflict is justified and normalized as the eros emerges from the locals to fight in the war.
Power Dynamics
The propaganda model enhances militarization ideology, which justifies engaging in violence to assert power and dominance (Herman & Chomsky, 1998). The corporate organization exploring the new world claims to be doing it for the survival and development of humans. Therefore, the film promotes military intervention in meeting similar objectives. These perspectives are fundamental in enhancing the understanding of power. In addition, this film demonstrates and reinforces the idea of privileged masculinity in a patriarchal society, where men had power a dominate over the others (Niva, 2019). On the contrary, the indigenous community had an egalitarian system whereby they practiced flexible gender roles, and women also held significant societal positions (Weldes, 1999). This film reinforces the dominating male figures who wield power and authority. In addition, in militarization, the idea of a male-led armed force is enhanced, portraying the dominating power from a gendered perspective (Silk, 2017).
Conclusion
The RDA in “Avatar” is portrayed as exercising its sovereign power, and military force is justified to meet its objectives as humans. They are reinforcing militarization with the claim that using force to protect humans and control the resources has been experienced in the real world, where powerful countries invade lesser states to exploit resources and exercise dominance. The use of military violence in this film is associated with exploiting resources, pursuing power, and extracting resources. Therefore, the military is a force to ensure that the primitive race complies with the new power.
Analyzing “Avatar” identifies the interconnection between militarization and power dynamics. Through critical analysis, military force has been justified and enhanced, identifying the implications of socio-economic and political factors. The audience is encouraged to acknowledge the importance of military use in conflict and dominating lesser cultures. The ideas promoted by the movie justify the support of engagement in military practices when taking over a place. Normalizing violence in pursuit of objectives is a major factor the movie enhances.
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