Abstract
Middle-Earth is a sub-created world, animated by J.R.R. Tolkien’s Catholic values of honor, mutual respect, and commitment to one’s fellows. From a constructivist view, readers and viewers see the evolution of values, norms, and institutions of Middle-Earth. For instance, Elves’ values have been set for millennia, especially in the enchanted Rivendell, while Dwarves maintain their pride in themselves and their martial and wealth accumulation accomplishments. Each society cultivates its own domestic politics but, through nascent international relations, learn to cooperate and create alliances for their mutual benefit. The ultimate takeaway from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings is the value of alliances, as embodied in the Company in The Hobbit, the Fellowship of the Ring and Aragorn’s army of Elves, Men, and other species that culminate in The Return of the King.
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Campbell, J.R. (2023). Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, and Men/Women: The Politics and IR of Lord of the Rings. In: The Politics and International Relations of Fantasy Films and Television. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24239-7_2
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