Abstract

In the film Black Panther (2018), the nation of Wakanda is by far the most powerful on Earth. Assuming that superheroes don’t intervene, Wakanda has the ability to impose its will on any other nation. The Wakandans are aware that there is great injustice in the world outside their utopia. Yet they don’t simply take over the world and put things to rights. Should they? And if not, how far should they go In trying to influence the course of other nations? As things stand, their secrecy and isolationism prevents them from even applying diplomatic pressure. The chapter is an examination of the ethics of nations using their power to influence other nations. It is argued that while the Wakandans are right not to take over the world, they should take a more interventionist approach internationally. The Wakandans were right not to ultimately follow Jadaka’s plan for a world dictatorship founded on an ethnic hierarchy. The Wakandans also have good grounds to be wary about interfering in the affairs of other nations in general, given world history, particularly colonial history, and above all, the history of colonial and post-colonial Africa. However, some dangers are so great, and some evils so bad, that intervention, and even intervention by force, is justified. Wakanda provides a useful thought experiment for considering our relationship with other nations. The way that we would want Wakanda to treat other nations, including ours, can help to show us how our own nation should be acting. We should avoid dominating other nations, and our actions should be informed by an understanding of the harms done by empires and colonial powers. However, there are some dangers so great, and some evils so bad, that intervention, even intervention by force, is justified.