hontou ni sou omou?

Another recap episode. No new Lunamaria scenes. Bleah. The only new stuff like changes to the OP, the ED Zaku! Zaku!! campaign and GSD 42 preview has already been covered and screencapped, with his usual verve and efficiency, by Omni.

I will just conveniently use the structure of this episode to discuss some concepts in international relations theory which GSD brings out quite well. There is nothing original about this, of course. In my undergrad days, there was a conference on the influence and uses of popular culture in international relations theorising and one of my profs’ papers was on how technology can radically change political norms, imagined through the sci-fi novels of Iain M. Banks. I would love to be able to do something like that with anime one day and am hopeful that Prof Matt Thorn will continue to pave the way.

The first half of the recap was voiced over by Athrun and highlighted the concept of power, one of the central theoretical precepts of classical realism in IR, best represented by the works of Hans Morgenthau and George Kennan. Power is required to maintain security (often referred to in the literature as “order” cf. Hedley Bull’s The Anarchical Society) and thus negative peace i.e. the absence of armed conflict. However order is not necessarily just. Individuals, groups and states may seek a more positive peace i.e. harmonious relations, redistribution of rights and/or economic surplus and this often requires them to struggle for power which leads to the conflict which they strove to avoid. This paradox affects the Archangel team.

Cagalli felt that excessive power leads to strife and her reasoning is probably drawn from the concept of the security dilemma. The crucial problem is Dullindal rebutted that Orb also realised that power is necessary to protect its ideals so what constitutes an excess of power especially when your adversary’s capabilities are unknown and probably expanding? Athrun realised that he needed power as action is a function of power and will and that will alone is insufficient. Thinking that Dullindal was sympathetic towards his values, he accepted Saviour and the FAITH emblem. However this was a masterstroke by the Chairman as he used Athrun’s need for power to enmesh him in his plans and redirect Athrun’s power towards his own goals, knowing that Athrun would respond to the ties of his old comrades-in-arms (Yzak and Dekka), new comrades-in-arms (Minerva team) and his love for the people of PLANT.

The second part, voiced over by Kira, highlighted the issue of will. Kira explained that he only piloted a mobile suit again because of the assassination attempt on Lacus and that he needed a sword (power) to protect her. Kira’s situation is a lateral inversion of Athrun’s. The latter had the will but lacked the means and thus “sold out” for Saviour whereas the former had the means (Freedom) but did not have the need or motivation to use it until GSD 14. This is a familiar problem for many developed countries which had the military capability to intervene for a just cause e.g. Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo but lacked the popular and political will to do so until a later stage of those conflicts.

Significantly, it was Athrun who lost his will in GSD 28, losing his argument with Kira during the second Orb-Minerva battle and then losing his means with Freedom totalling Saviour. Rather like a Louis Chia martial arts novel whereby usually the pugilist who loses the argument or his temper will inevitably lose the duel as well. Without will, power cannot be directed effectively. And for will to be strong, it needs to be grounded in strong values and beliefs. Athrun and Cagalli have come to doubt themselves and their beliefs - and consequently are unable to manifest their SEED abilities.

I think it is unfair to call the Archangel team “hippie pacificists” or “hypocrites” and I think this recap goes a bit towards addressing these accusations. They try to prevent or stop conflict, aiming for minimum casualties in the process, but do not baulk at using the quite considerable military means at their disposal. I’d prefer to think of them as fighting a just war for a better future.

Side-note: I was thinking that it was a bit odd how strongly Athrun and Kira were featured in this recap but then I remembered that Shinn already had a recap from his point of view in GSD 20.