THE HUNGER GAMES ON A DIPLOMATIC OUTLOOK

The Hunger Games on a Diplomatic Outlook

Kana Lou Cassandra B. Besana

Political Science 14-3

University of the Philippines - Visayas

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The Philippines has a very rich history even before the occupancy of the Spaniards to

the attainment of our independence. But beyond this affluent past, our thoughts and minds are

clouded by the ideas of our elites setting boundaries on what we believe in and worse, dictating

our culture. This notion can be depicted just by looking back in our history and by this; we can

see a lot of untold stories and unheard voices of our ancestors which had, contributed to the

different problems which our country is now facing.

This same situation, as a matter of fact, can also happen in the future. The Hunger

Games, set after an apocalyptic event that happened on Earth, is an annual event televised by the

Capitol in which two representatives, one boy and one girl, from each of the twelve districts of

Panem will be forced to compete each other in a matter of life and death. Katniss Everdeen, a

16-year-old girl of District 12, volunteers in place of her sister as a tribute for the 74th Hunger

Games. Little does she know that this small act of hers slowly ignited the peoples revolt against

the Capitol. Series of events followed and unexpected revelations showed and proved that even

in a post-apocalyptic time, the occurrences of the past and present can still arise in different parts

of the world and even in the future.

Panem, a nation located in North America, was established after an apocalyptic event that

destroyed civilization. It was originally composed of 13 districts, each allocated and held

responsible for producing goods that are needed to sustain the whole nation and operated under

an oppressive Capitol. Due to the governments unjust ways, the people of Panem rebelled

against the Capitol resulting to a war, known as the Dark Days, and numerous casualties both

from the Capitol and the districts. The Capitol won the said uprising by defeating the twelve

districts and eliminating the thirteenth. After this, the Hunger Games was created in order to
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remind the people that they can never defeat the Capitol and if ever theyll try to, they will have

the same fate as to District 13.

Before to the Dark Days war, District 13 operated in nuclear technology and mined

graphite. During the Dark Days they were one of the major forces of the rebellion and they they

managed to take control of the nuclear arsenal near the end of the Dark Days. At the end of the

war, they have survived, and became an underground district when the population retreated to

bunkers. It was later revealed that the Capitol and District 13 agreed to leave each other alone

since District 13 made nuclear weapons and the Capitol didnt want a nuclear war. Also, this

underground district has its own government and farms that let them survive after the Capitol

destroyed everything above ground so as not to arouse suspicion (Genet & Genet, 2012).

This outcome was never told to the masses to the people of Panem and they were

made to believe a rather fabricated ending of a revolution. Why? Because the Capitol wanted to

control the people; they want the people to know that they are more powerful and invincible.

However, the real reason why they hid about District 13 was not because they wanted to avoid

another mutiny but because they were afraid of the danger that this district poses to the Capitol.

They being able to create nuclear weapons gave them much power and through the years were

secretly planning on conquering the Capitol, just waiting for the right time.

Seventy-four years later after the war, a very extraordinary event had occurred that gave

the people of Panem hope while fear for the Capitol. Katniss Everdeen is a rebellious young

woman who has hatred against the Capitol. She hates everything about them from the odd

fashion taste and self-centered way of life of the people living in it to how the Capitol rules over

the entire Panem. She and Peeta Mellark, the other chosen tribute of District 12, were taught and
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trained to survive and hopefully one of them, with the best of luck, will win among the 22 other

tributes. During the extent of the game, her skills in hunting gave Katniss the advantage to be

one of the last tributes to win. Since she and Peeta were branded as the star-crossed lovers of the

74th Hunger Games, the game makers announced, in the middle of the game, that two tributes can

become victors as long as both of them came from the same districts. But as soon as Katniss and

Peeta were the only ones left, they unexpectedly changed the rules again that only one victor is

allowed. With knowledge that there must be at least one victor for each hunger games, Katniss

planned to show a suicide attempt together with Peeta by eating poisonous berries. She thought

that by doing this, the game makers might change their mind and they did. They were proclaimed

as the victors of the 74th Hunger Games.

However, the Capitol was not happy about this turn out of events. She didnt know that

what she did had ignited the long sleeping rage of the people against the Capitol. Several revolts

and unrests were seen and felt in some of the districts of Panem. People were showing signs of

disapproval and insurgence. They want their voices not just to be heard but to be listened to and

they arent passive anymore, theyre participating because they want a change. They want

freedom. This particular instance is evidence how the principles of the masses of Panem evolved

from parochial, an almost total lack of knowledge about and complete disinterest in political

output or input through a subject, Katnisss disobedience to the Capitol, to awareness and a belief

that the citizen, has a right to participate (Wurfell, 1988).

Revolutions started to thrive in different parts of Panem and alliances were formed. The

saying, even the ugliest of foes unite against a common enemy, is the best embodiment that

could describe the process of nation-building of the citizens of Panem against the post-

apocalyptic, totalitarian rule of the Capitol. This very essence of the Capitol being a tyrannical
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government made it a weak state that resulted to rebellions but the unified ideology of the masses

made them strong. After the various uprisings, District 13 came out and helped the people of

Panem win the battle against the Capitol. They were not anymore the 13 distinct districts of

Panem but the amalgamate forces of a diverse society united for one collective goal: to end the

dictatorial regime of the Capitol and achieve total freedom and peace.

Though the whole concept of the Hunger Games is on a fictional dystopic sense, we can

still depict it as a possibility the future can hold. It gave us analogies of the conditions of our

government and the citizens as well. The invented tale of the Capitol about District 13 and its

unresolved conflict between the twelve districts didnt end by enforcing the Hunger Games. Yes,

people were afraid of how the Capiol rule over Panem, but because of Katnisss overt loathe

against the Capitol, they started to take their stand. Also, it brought consciousness to the

populace that these defiant deeds for independence may emerge not just in the Philippines but

also in other parts of the world; not just in our history or in present time but even in a post-

apocalyptic polity.
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References

Collins, S. (2008). The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press.

Collins, S. (2009). Catching Fire. New York: Scholastic Press.

Collins, S. (2010). Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Genet, A., & Genet, J. (2012). World of Panem. Retrieved from http://citizensofpanem.com

Wurfell, D. (1988). Political Culture and Socialization. In D. Wurfel, Filipino Politics:

Development and Decay (p. 39). Ateneo de Manila University Press.