IR Strikes Back

K-Pop: Demon Hunters looks like pure Korean soft power — but behind the glitter lies an American remix.
In this episode of Les RI contre-attaquent, we unpack how Netflix’s animated fantasy uses K-pop idols to project U.S. influence: from the Met Gala to songs in English, from hybrid characters to the celebration of individuality over collective identity.

🎧 Key themes:

• Why global success still runs through the U.S.

• K-pop as a tool of American cultural strategy

• The clash between idol “manufacture” and U.S.-style self-expression

• A film more Americanized than it first appears.

⚠️ Disclaimer: this podcast does not aim to endorse J.K. Rowling’s work ⚠️🎬 Fantastic Beasts 2 & 3 are more than just wizarding films — they reveal a subtle blend of Anglo-American soft power. Beyond magical duels, the story mirrors today’s geopolitical challenges: the rise of populism and the struggles of international institutions.In this episode of IR Strikes Back, we unpack how the Harry Potter universe reflects current international rivalries:🇺🇸 The United States’ diminishing role as a military power🇬🇧 The UK’s ambivalent posture in the post-Brexit era🇪🇺 Schengen mobility and European integration🇨🇳 China’s surprising invisibility in the magical world🌍 And a magical world organization… strikingly similar to the UN🎯 On the agenda:- Anglo-American soft power- Grindelwald, populism & democracy in crisis- Magical symbols & international norms- The geopolitics of settings: Germany, France, Bhutan & China- What China’s absence from the magical universe really reveals