Democracy in the MCU

By James Jimenez

Stan Lee probably never imagined himself to be an advocate of democracy, and I’m certain neither did the studio executives behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but here we are. With its deep narratives and multi-faceted characters, the MCU actually offers more than just escapist action entertainment – for those who look beyond the obvious, these Marvel superhero movies can offer insightful parallels to democratic principles that we are all familiar with.

In the  movie “The Avengers” (2012) for instance, Earth’s mightiest heroes come together to defeat Loki and his alien army. Despite their differences, individual strengths, and massive egos, the Avengers eventually learn to work together and make joint decisions for the good of the broader world.

This showcases the democratic principle of collaborative decision-making and highlights the importance of teamwork, unity, and consensus-building – all fundamental to a well-functioning democracy. The Avengers’ ability to put aside personal differences and work together for a common goal reflects the values of democracy and the power of collective action. One could even argue that this is actually an illustration of that old aphorism “politics is the art of the possible.”

Another foundational element of democracy is transparency in governance. This was illustrated effectively in “Captain America: the Winter Soldier” (2014).” In that movie, the lack of transparency in S.H.I.E.L.D. led directly to the domination of that organization by Hydra. One could actually consider this a cautionary tale, teaching us that an opaque government is prone to being taken over by corruption, until it ceases entirely to working for the good of the governed. Just like Captain America in the movie, citizens in a democracy must not be afraid to demand transparency and hold their leaders accountable. Only in this way will the integrity of the government be maintained.

On a level closer to home, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017) highlights the democratic value of civic engagement. Civic engagement encourages citizens to actively participate in governance and community life, in the process, fostering a sense of shared responsibility, promoting government accountability, and empowering individuals to shape their communities.

Spider-Man’s focus on protecting the community drives home the message that community-level action can be just as heroic as galaxy-shaking battles. Where Spider-Man stops a bicycle thief, we might see ourselves helping out with our barangay’s efforts to keep our community “clean,” so to speak . We may  not be stopping actual crimes, but we can still contribute to the lawful order of the community. And where the wallcrawler takes the time to help out a grandmother, we can relate when we participate in volunteer activities like after-school programs for the community’s youths, contributing directly to their empowerment as citizens.

The parallels with the MCU don’t stop at the outer edge of the atmosphere either.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014), a movie that follows the adventures of, well … aliens, resonates with the democratic value of diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI. The movie colorfully and effectively illustrates the value of bringing together different cultures – each with  their own strengths – and perspectives in a democratic society. This sentiment is so central to the idea of democracy that, over the years, numerous politicians have repeatedly adopted as their  slogan, variations on the theme ‘stronger together,’ which could also very well describe Star Lord’s motley crew: limited as individuals but a force to reckon with as a group.

And then there’s the  freedom of  the  press, and  the media’s role in keeping  government’s honest – a  key feature of any functioning democracy.

While the concept of freedom of the press is not directly used as a central theme  in  any MCU movie, its  impact and its role in governance and decision making, is very easily apparent. In the movie “Captain America: Civil War” (2016) for example, media coverage of the Avenger’s activities in a foreign country – which resulted in the destruction of property and the death of several civilians – was instrumental in impelling governments to take action to rein in the Avengers, leading to the Sokovia Accords.

In a similar way. in the Iron Man movies, pressure from the  media is seen as an indispensable means of keeping government  and powerful individuals – like Tony Stark himself – honest. This resonates with us as this is precisely how we envision media should operate.

And finally, no discussion  of democracy principles in MCU  movies would be  complete without a nod to Ant-Man seeing as how the current President’s determination  to run for office was once said to have solidified while he was watching this very movie. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023) reflects how the protagonists, Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, bravely embraced new technology in pursuit of progress for the betterment of society. In 2010, the Commission on Elections showed the same audacity when it took Philippine elections from 0% to100% automation in the space of one electoral exercise, because there was a need to reboot a system of elections widely considered to be flawed and even broken. The willingness to act boldly is undeniably a hallmark of a vibrant and functioning democracy that does not shirk its duty to work for the interests of the people.

In the final analysis, the Marvel Cinematic Universe offers an interesting and entertaining lens through which we can explore and understand democratic principles. By drawing parallels between the characters and themes within the MCU and the core values of democracy, we gain a fresh new understanding of the importance of core democratic principles – accountability, justice, individual liberty, collaboration, government transparency, civic engagement, gender equality, open-mindedness, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and adaptability – in maintaining and strengthening democratic societies.