INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONS CIA-1
Concepts in IR through Cartoons (Case Study Analysis on Unit I through political cartoons)

School of Business and Management, Christ University BGR

Done by: Siva Priyanka Telikicharla

Registration number: 2323665

Class: 2 BBAFIB B

Submitted to: RAJEESH C S Sir

Submitted on: 14th January 2024

Concept 1:

“Children” The issues related to children in the perspective on political problems are child
poverty, child mortality, child labour, global education etc.

1) The first cartoon regarding this matter is as follows.

Interpretation: This cartoon has been extracted from “The Times of India”, created by
Sandeep Adhwaryu. This cartoon is talking about the saddening state of Gaza on Christmas,
The Gaza Strip has seen several difficulties, such as wars, hard times financially, and
restricted access to basic amenities. These elements influence children's health and wellbeing
by creating an atmosphere that is challenging for them.
The cartoon clearly depicts a situation in Gaza during war, Santa on Christmas day arrives
with the presents intended for children but looks down at a teddy bear that used to belong to a
child, is questioning him about the children the were supposed to have received those
presents.

Inadequate living circumstances, food, and medical care for children in Gaza may contribute
to increased rates of morbidity and mortality. The conflict between Israel and Palestine has
had a profound impact on the region, with civilians, including children, often caught in the
crossfire. The lack of access to healthcare facilities and essential services due to infrastructure
damage, restrictions on movement, and resource shortages exacerbate the difficulties faced by
children in Gaza.

2) The next cartoon is regarding the persistent issue of child labour:

Interpretation: This cartoon has been created by Niels Bo Bojesen from Denmark, extracted
from a blog called “the cartoon movement”.
It is seen in the cartoon that a small hand that is of a child is raised from a gentleman’s cup of
coffee, there is a worried look on the man’s face, we can interpret that the hand is a reach for
help from the children stuck in the toxic cycle of labour forced to perform by children in
coffee cultivation.

In some coffee-producing regions, this practice is frequently linked to socioeconomic

difficulties, poverty, and restricted access to education. Despite efforts to address and end
child labour in the coffee business, there are still many obstacles to overcome due to the
supply chain's complexity and globalisation.

3) The next cartoon in regard of child poverty:

Interpretation: This cartoon has been extracted from the “News from Wellington” this has
been created by Jim Hubbard.

In this cartoon we can see a child in hunger looking hopelessly at an empty refrigerator. The
door of the refrigerator depicted says “govt initiatives” which metaphorically tells us that the
initiatives started by the governments of the world have not actually lent help to the children
of poverty and hunger in reality.
Children living in poverty face numerous challenges that can have long-lasting effects on
their health, education, and overall well-being. While many governments have launched
numerous programmes to combat child poverty, it is true that these initiatives vary in their
efficiency and that some may not be able to bring about meaningful and long-lasting changes.

Criticisms often revolve around insufficient funding, hindering the reach and impact of
programs. Poor targeting and bureaucratic barriers can impede the identification and support
of vulnerable populations, creating delays and barriers to access. Additionally, a short-term
focus and a lack of coordination among government agencies may limit the sustainability and
effectiveness of anti-poverty measures.

Concept 2:

The following cartoons talk about the issue of “Nationalism”.

4) This cartoon is with respect to an information leak during the Pathankot attack:

Interpretation: This cartoon has been extracted from the media channel “The India Eye”,
created by jaclartoons.in.

The political, social, and cultural philosophy known as nationalism places a strong emphasis
on the value of a common national identity that is frequently derived from shared
 history, geography, language, and culture. It is the idea that a collection of people with
these traits form a unique nation and ought to be able to choose their own course in
life, both politically and socially.

In this cartoon we can see soldiers at the border of India and Pakistan during the Pathankot
attack, and a camera from the news channel NDTV is broadcasting sensitive
information and the enemy is getting an advantage from the information leak.

5) The next cartoon talks more on the propaganda and chauvinism of a country:

Interpretation: This cartoon has been extracted from the media page “Alamy”.

In this cartoon it clearly depicts a speaker who is dressed as the character “Uncle Sam”,
denying the obvious display of patriotism. Uncle Sam has always been a popular
symbol of the U.S. government in American culture and a manifestation of patriotic
emotion, the character Uncle Sam has also developed notoriety for his appearance in
military propaganda, popularized by a famous 1917 World war I.

We can understand that the artist is trying to talk about the many political leaders in countries
like the US who display chauvinism and further deny the fact.
Political leaders may highlight the history, grandeur, and uniqueness of their country in
speeches and public addresses. The promotion of national accomplishments, ideals,
and identity can fall under this classification of nationalism. A demonstration of
nationalism is also found in the preservation and promotion of the country's cultural
heritage. This could entail promoting historical preservation, cultural events, and a
feeling of community among the people.

Uncle Sam is not a chauvinistic symbol per se, but certain of the ways the character is used or
portrayed in political cartoons, propaganda, or speeches might make the image seem
chauvinistic. In this sense, nationalism or patriotism that is extreme or
aggressive—including the conviction that one's own country is superior to all
others—is referred to as chauvinism.