Harry Potter and International Relations

I will be teaching middle and high school literature classes on Harry Potter this spring, so I checked this book out of the PINES library system (Georgia). I reached the end of the book and had so many pages dog-eared that I bought my own copy.The book conveys serious and in-depth information, yet is not overwhelming in its tone or use of jargon. It is very well documented which I greatly appreciate.I agree with the other reviewers that the book is weakened by its not taking Deathy Hallows into account, but if you bear that in mind as you read, it is not difficult to overcome.Overall, I am thrilled with this work. Perhaps there is an updated version in the works?

Our class has just started getting into the book but, so far I like the way it has incorporated terms we have been using in a much clear way for me to understand.

Despite a good analysis on international relations and its sub-areas, this collection of articles appears to be not so into Harry Potter. It's not that the author didn't read or does not know the history or the multimedia phenomena of Rowling's series, but, writing as a true fan of it, they were not so into it - or, at least, didn't use its full potential. The result is a book that offers some interesting insights, but can't go further and attract readers beyond those who were already Harry Potter fans.Nevertheless, it's a good book and, at least as it "Daily Prophet" describes, "A groundbreaking in muggle studies".

I am using this with a small group of students this semester and the initial chapters on globalization are quite interesting. Some of the chapters in which the analysis depends on the plot of the novels are limited by the fact this book was published before Deathly Hallows. One chapter--comparing the role of realist and liberal theories of collective identity in international relations--is especially weakened in this regard. I like the academic tone of the articles though some have clearly read the novels more thoroughly than others.

For a better read of understanding IR read Dan Drezners "International Relations and Zombies."