What Wakanda can teach the rest of Us
The Marvel movie The Black Panther was mostly about the struggles, ideological and otherwise, that black people in the United States and elsewhere in the African diaspora face internally and externally. I don’t feel as though it’s my place to comment on that story and that struggle and I won’t attempt to. However, I noticed a second story imbedded within the larger that has potential lessons to teach to a wider global audience. Mostly how a society contends with the competing impulses of traditionalism and scientific advancement, as well as isolationism versus engagement.
Wakanda is of course a fictional country set somewhere in Africa based on the Afro-futurist idea of an ideal African country untouched by European colonialism and domination, allowed to grow and develop on its own away from the prying eyes of the rest of the world. It has however much to teach the real world of politics, development, and international affairs. In the film , we are introduced to a highly technologically advanced civilization that has all the hallmarks of a modern advanced society, with flourishing trade, industry, fashion, science transportation and medicine. We are also introduced to a highly traditional nation, particularly in its political and and military spheres, which are still divided along ancient tribal traditions. Particularly it would be interesting to see how Wakanda’ military stacked up against a modern, high-tech, American style military given they’re traditionalist ethic and tactics. However, it is obvious from the film at least that the Wakandans poses an excellent intelligence gathering and counter-espionage system/ infiltration system that would be difficult for any outside power to deal with.
Of course the other major advantage that the Wakandans poses that must be addressed is the monopoly on Vibranium. This is the most obvious science-fiction element of the Wakanda story, but it plays a major role in their success and so must be addressed. It is Vibranium that allows Wakanda to achieve their high scientific advancement while maintaining an isolated and secretive stance toward the rest of the world, as well as helping to prevent their colonization by European powers. It is probable that their high degree of independence as well as scientific advancement, as well as traditionalism, is due to the almost magical like powers of vibranium.
All of that being said, the most obvious weakness in the country is their political system, which is based on the character of a single individual, the monarch, and thus makes the entire system vulnerable if the head of state is deposed. Which is demonstrated with the seeming ease with which the Killmonger terror faction is able to overthrow and destabilize the government. The lack of any democratic institutions that might be able to check the power of the monarchy, and don’t rely on the personal loyalty of key players in the political and military structure, see: W’Kabi, Okoye, and M’Baku, is a serious flaw in the Wakandan system exposed by the events of the movie.
Of course this situation need not be permanent. Reforms could be implemented to bring more democratic institutions into effect without disrupting the obviously highly traditional Wakandans too much. A constitutional monarchy seems like the best fit for a country like Wakanda, modeled after either the British or the Japanese system. Both of which had very traditionalist monarchal systems that were able to transition to more democratic systems while also embracing modernity while managing to keep a high degree of their traditional culture intact. These countries seem like ideal role models for Wakanda.
There would need to be a reform the process in which the kings(or queens) of Wakanda are chosen. At the beginning of the movie, it is made to seem as if the ritual combat that determines who becomes the next monarch is mostly a formality, especially in the case of a highly esteemed contender like T’Challa. Of course it is quickly shown how tenuous the T’Chaka/T’Challa dynasty’s grasp on power truly is through the course of the movie. Either doing away with this ritual entirely or making it truly a formality/performed ritual would do much to decrease the potential disruption that is caused by the death of a monarch. Also expanding the tribal council of chiefs into a truly representative body would to much to increase the Wakandan peoples role in government and would be good first step towards a more representative democracy.
The recent run of comics by Te-Nahsi Cotes address many of these issues of representation in the Wakandan system and would be one of the main improvements the Wakandans could make to their society. They could learn much about different systems of government from the rest of the world, however the rest of the world could also lean much from Wakanda. The way in which Wakanda is able to maintain its ancient traditions and religion while maintaining a high degree of scientific advancement is highly admirable and reflect perhaps a more wholistic view of the science/spirituality divide than is prevalent in the West. In a similar vein, although this could be perhaps explored more, the Wakandan cities that are shown seem to have a more harmonious relationship with nature than modern Western cities. There does not seem to be any major pollution and the cities themselves seem to be designed with the natural landscape in mind. Of course we are not shown how, or even if there are any other issues with pollution, but the image we are shown is an ideal one for many cities and nations around the world to aspire to.
The most immediately applicable way that other countries can take lessons from Wakanda is in their approach to foreign policy. Of course we are presented with three distinct foreign policie schemes throughout the film. The traditional isolationism of T’Chaka, the aggressive militarism of Killmonger, and the peaceful engagement of T’Challa, who of course rejects the two extreme approaches mentioned above. The isolationism of T’Chaka is neither practical nor desirable in the modern globalized world. But neither is the militaristic intervention and conquest of Killmonger which seems to belong to another era of colonialism and invasion. T’Challa rejects the two extremes and opts for a peaceful integration with the rest of the world. Complete with aid missions and outreach, as well as using that excellent Wakandan intelligence system to combat terrorism and human trafficking. This is not far from the so-called “Obama doctrine” and represents a third path that seems to offer a bit of hope in an international arena seemingly dominated by autocratic crackdowns and nationalistic resurgences. That is what Wakanda can teach us.