Politics of Harry Potter

Politics of the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling

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Many published theories explore the politics of the Harry Potter novels by J. K. Rowling, covering topics ranging from critiques of racism to anti-government sentiment. Scholars and commentators have argued that the series contains both liberal and conservative themes. According to Inside Higher Ed, several doctoral theses have been devoted to analyzing the political aspects of the Harry Potter books.[1] University-level courses, including upper-division political science classes, have also centered on studying the series.[2]

Time magazine highlighted the political and social dimensions of Harry Potter in its 2007 "Person of the Year" issue, where Rowling ranked third behind politicians Vladimir Putin and Al Gore.[3] The series' potential political and social influence has been compared to the impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 19th-century novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, which, despite facing critical scrutiny, helped fuel the abolitionist movement leading up to the American Civil War.[4]

When asked about the political messages in Harry Potter, Rowling explained:

"I wanted Harry to leave our world and find exactly the same problems in the wizarding world. So you have the intent to impose a hierarchy, you have bigotry, and this notion of purity, which is this great fallacy, but it crops up all over the world. People like to think themselves superior and that if they can pride themselves in nothing else, they can pride themselves on perceived purity. [...] It wasn't really exclusively that. I think you can see in the Ministry even before it's taken over, there are parallels to regimes we all know and love."[5]

She further emphasized the importance of skepticism toward authority, stating:

"You should question authority and you should not assume that the establishment or the press tells you all of the truth."[6]

In examining political parallels, The Wall Street Journal compared British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic in Harry Potter, noting that both figures downplayed looming threats to maintain political stability. The article observed:

"Throughout the '30s, Chamberlain, fearing that Churchill was out for his job, conducted a campaign against his fellow Tory. Chamberlain tried evading war with Germany, and ridiculed Churchill as a 'warmonger'. He used The Times—the government's house organ—to attack Churchill and suppress dispatches from abroad about the Nazis that would have vindicated him."[7]

Rowling confirmed Chamberlain's influence on Fudge's character in an interview with the Spanish newspaper magazine XLSemanal.[8]

Rowling also told the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant that Voldemort was modeled after Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, describing him as a "megalomaniac and paranoid figure." She acknowledged the influence of World War II on her writing, noting that the conflict is "anchored in all our minds". Speaking about Draco Malfoy, she said:

"Draco Malfoy does indeed stand for that type of boy. He wouldn't have killed Dumbledore; he couldn't. As long as things are imaginary, okay, but once it becomes reality, the thing becomes more difficult."

Addressing character design choices, Rowling explained:

"No, that I gave him that light blonde hair is not because I wanted to make him into a scary Nazi. You give your characters the appearance that you find attractive; that is why I gave my hero dark hair, green eyes and glasses. I'm married to a man who looks like that."[9]

## Literature as Political Commentary

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Literature has long been used as a tool to reflect and influence political ideologies. John D. Lindberg's Literature and Politics (1968) argues that literary works can both critique power structures and advocate for social change, while also navigating the complexities of artistic expression and political engagement.[10]

This perspective helps contextualize the Harry Potter series within a broader tradition of politically engaged literature. Rowling's works, while ostensibly fantasy, explore themes of authoritarianism, resistance, and social justice, demonstrating how literature can both entertain and provoke political thought.[10]

## Overview

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Barratt's The Politics of Harry Potter (2012)[11] argues that although the Harry Potter books are ostensibly works of fantasy, they engage with real-world political issues and ideologies. This aligns with John D. Lindberg's broader analysis of literature's role in politics, which emphasizes how literary works can critique political systems and advocate for social change.[10] Rowling explained, "I wanted Harry to leave our world and find exactly the same problems in the wizarding world.”[12] According to Barratt, the series explores a wide range of political and social issues, including:

### Authoritarianism and fascism

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A central theme identified by Barratt is the series' clear condemnation of authoritarianism and fascist policies, embodied by Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. The books highlight the dangers of pure-blood supremacy, discrimination, and the suppression of dissent, drawing parallels with historical and contemporary examples of totalitarian regimes.

Political scientist Diana C. Mutz expands on this by noting that the series’ anti-authoritarian themes not only reflect historical fascist regimes but may also influence readers' political beliefs. Her 2016 study found that frequent Harry Potter readers demonstrated decreased support for authoritarian political figures and policies, suggesting the books can shape real-world political perspectives.[13]

Barton (2006) analyzes how the Ministry of Magic exemplifies government inefficiency and authoritarianism, paralleling real-world bureaucracies that fail to serve the public. The Ministry's corruption, censorship, and oppressive policies reflect broader societal concerns about unchecked governmental power and legal corruption.[14]

### Liberal democracy

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Rowling's books advocate for democratic values such as equality, tolerance, free speech, and the rule of law. The struggle against Voldemort is framed as a fight to preserve these principles against those seeking to undermine them. Although the series highlights the importance of fair institutions, it also acknowledges their flaws.

Mutz's research further suggests that Rowling's emphasis on democractic ideals encourages readers to value civic engagement and political participation.[13]

While the books highlight democratic ideals, Barton notes that Rowling critiques the fragility of institutions meant to uphold these values. The Ministry's overreach and disregard for civil liberties, as seen in wrongful imprisonments and oppressive laws, reveal the dangers of flawed governance.[14]

### Social inequality and prejudice

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The series critiques social inequality and prejudice, particularly through the portrayal of house-elves, werewolves, and other marginalized groups. Prejudice based on blood status and interspecies discrimination serves as an allegory for real-world issues such as systemic racism and xenophobia. Scholars have drawn parallels between the wizarding world's hierarchical structures and historical forms of racial discrimination.

Vollmer expands on this by analyzing the wizarding world’s rigid caste system, where pure-blood wizards dominate, while Muggle-borns, half-bloods, and non-human beings face systemic exclusion. She argues that this structure mirrors real-world social hierarchies, reinforcing themes of privilege and inherited power. Vollmer also highlights Hermione’s efforts to challenge these inequalities through S.P.E.W., contrasting her activism with the Malfoys' staunch defense of wizarding elitism.[15]

### The importance of resistance and activism

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Barrett emphasizes that Harry Potter highlights the importance of resisting tyranny and injustice. Throughout the series, Harry and his friends exemplify the power of individual and collective action in challenging oppressive systems.

Inspired by these themes, fan-led initiatives like the Harry Potter Alliance have used the books as a platform to promote activism on issues including human rights and climate change.[16]

### Media, power, and justice

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The series examine the basis of power, the manipulation of information, and the role of the media. The Daily Prophet’s biased reporting underscores the dangers of media control in sustaining authoritarian regimes, reflecting contemporary concerns about disinformation and press freedom.[10]

Some themes are presented with greater nuance. For instance, while the Ministry of Magic is depicted as bumbling, inefficient and corrupt, it also retains a degree of legitimacy and is staffed by key players who seek reform. This ambivalence reflects a more realistic portrayal of governmental power structures and institutional complexity.[17]

## Governance and Bureaucracy

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Barton (2006) provides an in-depth examination of how the Harry Potter series critiques bureaucratic inefficiency and authoritarian tendencies through the Ministry of Magic. The depiction of legal corruption, media manipulation, and governmental overreach mirrors concerns in real-world political systems. These narratives underscore the consequences of institutions prioritizing power over public service.[14]

## Racism and totalitarianism

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In On Tyranny, historian Timothy Synder recommends reading Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows for its exploration of anti-totalitarianism themes, alongside classic works by authors like George Orwell.[18][19]

Scholars and analysts have noted that J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series critiques racism and prejudice.[20][21] When asked whether her books have influenced reader's views on racism, Rowling responded:

"I do not think I am pessimistic but I think I am realistic about how much you can change deeply entrenched prejudice, so my feeling would be that if someone were a committed racist, possibly Harry Potter is not going to have an effect."[22]

Following the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Rowling addressed questions regarding metaphors of ethnic cleansing in her books:

"Well, it is a political metaphor. But... I didn't sit down and think, 'I want to recreate Nazi Germany', in the—in the wizarding world. Because—although there are—quite consciously overtones of Nazi Germany, there are also associations with other political situations. So I can't really single one out."[23]

Rowling has explicitly compared Voldemort to historical figures such as Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, highlighting the character's megalomania and paranoia.[24] On her website, she noted the similarities between the wizarding's blood purity classifications ('pureblood,' 'half-blood,' and 'Muggle-born') and Nazi-era racial purity charts:

"I saw one in the Holocaust Museum in Washington when I had already devised the 'pure-blood', 'half-blood' and 'Muggle-born' definitions, and was chilled to notice the similarity."[25]

Expanding on this, Vollmer argues that Voldemort’s ideology reflects historical totalitarian regimes, particularly in how he weaponizes blood purity rhetoric to justify oppression and consolidate power. She highlights his own paradoxical heritage. Despite being a half-blood, Voldemort erases his Muggle origins to present himself as a leader of a racially "superior" movement, mirroring the self-serving contradictions of past authoritarian figures.[15]

The series' portrayal of goblins has been criticized by some commentators for drawing on antisemitic stereotypes. However, in Moment magazine, Stephen Richer argued that Rowling's depiction draws from broader fantasy tropes, stating:

"Perhaps the goblin character has its origins in anti-Semitism, but Rowling can hardly be convicted of unjust commentary for using a now-familiar Western literary character." Richer further noted that intentional antisemitism would be inconsistent with Rowling's expressed views and the series' overarching themes.[26]

The Harry Potter franchise has also been referenced in the Holocaust remembrance efforts. Actor Daniel Radcliffe, whose mother is Jewish, donated his first pair of Harry Potter glasses to an art exhibition inspired by a World War II photograph depicting a pile of victims' spectacles. Jacon Isaacs, Radcliffe's co-star and a Jewish Briton, participated in National Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations, leading a service at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall.[27]

Some interpretations extend the series' political commentary to contemporary issues like immigration. Aviva Chomsky, writing for The Providence Journal, suggested that Harry Potter can be read as a parable on immigration rights, drawing parallels between the wizarding world's treatment of "Muggle-born" witches and wizards and modern immigration policies. Chomsky noted:

"US "immigration, citizenship and naturalization laws are based explicitly on discrimination on the basis of national origin. Where you were born, and what passport you carry, determine whether you have the right to come here, to visit, to work, or to live here."[28]

## Education versus indoctrination

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Entertainment Weekly observed that the post-9/11 generation's understanding of war, leadership, the dangers of authoritarianism, the importance of dissent, and the nature of heroism and sacrifice has been shaped, at least in part, by J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. The publication also noted that Rowling's handling of public controversies surrounding her books has influenced young readers' views on freedom of speech.[29]

The revelation of Albus Dumbledore's sexuality sparked debate on whether the series promoted a specific social agenda. Television host Bill O'Reilly questioned whether Rowling's disclosure was part of a "gay agenda" intended to indoctrinate children. He described Rowling as a provocateur for revealing Dumbledore's sexuality after the books had been published. In response, Entertainment Weekly Senior Editor Tina Jordan dismissed the indoctrination claims as "a shallow argument", stating that "indoctrination is a very strong word" because "we all know gay people, whether we know it or not."[30] The following day, O'Reilly argued that Rowling's real intent was to Rowling normalize "parity for homosexuals with heterosexuals." His guest, comedian Dennis Miller, countered that teaching tolerance was positive and that "you can't indoctrinate a child into being gay."[31]

The Catholic news agency Zenit accused Rowling of betraying her readers by revealing Dumbledore's sexuality, arguing that her success was due to the absence of overt political, social, or moral propaganda in the Harry Potter books.[32] A contrasting op-ed suggested that one parent may view as indoctrination, another may see as education, countering the notion that Rowling was actively promoting homosexuality in her books.[33] Addressing the controversy, Rowling told the BBC that "Christian fundamentalists were never my base" and dismissed the idea that a gay character could not serve as a moral compass in the 21st century.[34]

Rowling also discussed how characters like Draco Malfoy and Dudley Dursley reflect the influence of parental beliefs. She explained that both were shaped by the ideologies of their families, but when confronted with real-world consequences, they began to question those beliefs. "The moment Draco got what he thought he wanted, to become a Death Eater, and given a mission by Lord Voldemort, as he did in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, reality finally hit him," Rowling noted, emphasizing that Draco's dream was "so very different" from the reality of serving Voldemort. She described Draco's character as morally weak but not inherently evil.[35]

## Evils of war

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On the Harry Potter series, Rowling said on her United States book tour in October 2007, "I very consciously wanted to show what is one of the great evils of war, which is that totally innocent people are slaughtered... Another great evil of war is that children lose their families."[36]

## Progressive values and diversity

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Time magazine said in 2005, "Rowling adapts an inherently conservative genre for her own progressive purposes. Her Hogwarts is secular and sexual and multicultural and multiracial and even sort of multimedia, with all those talking ghosts."[37] To mark the French publication of Deathly Hallows, prominent French center-left paper Liberation devoted the front cover and two more pages to answering the question "Why Harry Potter is of the Left".[38]

In 2007, responding to a question from a child about Albus Dumbledore's love life, Rowling revealed, "I always saw Dumbledore as gay." Filling in a few more details, she said, "Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald.... Don't forget, falling in love can blind us. [He] was very drawn to this brilliant person. This was Dumbledore's tragedy."[39]

Melissa Anelli, webmaster of the fan site The Leaky Cauldron, told The Associated Press, "Jo Rowling calling any Harry Potter character gay would make wonderful strides in tolerance toward homosexuality.... By dubbing someone so respected, so talented and so kind, as someone who just happens to be also homosexual, she's reinforcing the idea that a person's gayness is not something of which they should be ashamed."[40] Of the ensuing controversy, Rowling said, "I know that it was a positive thing that I said it, for at least one person, because one man 'came out' at Carnegie Hall."[41] Entertainment Weekly's Mark Harris said "her choice to make a beloved professor-mentor gay in a world where gay teachers are still routinely slandered as malign influences was, I am certain, no accident." Harris also says that there is a drastic underrepresentation of gays in the population, and it is a failure of decency and nerve on the entertainment industry— "including the tremendous number of gay producers, writers, and executives who sacrifice their convictions so they don't look too strident or political."[42]

Think Progress, a progressive news site, reported on several conservative blogs that said that Rowling's revelation about Dumbledore vindicates Jerry Falwell's attacks on homosexuality in children's media that were lambasted by the mass media.[43] "What's stopping her from saying that [Harry's friend] Neville grows up to be a paedophile?" said David Baggett, an associate philosophy professor at Falwell's Liberty University's School of Religion. Baggett, who coauthored the book Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts, says he was taken aback not only by Rowling's announcement, but by the fact that it came on the heels of her confirming many Potter fans' belief that the series had Christian themes.[44]

Slate Magazine quotes an attendee of the book talk who said, "It was clear that JKR didn't plan to out Dumbledore. She just cares about being true to her readers."[45] Mike Thomas of the Orlando Sentinel said that upon reflection, Dumbledore was gay from the beginning, and that this neatly explains the behaviour of his character and his relationship with Grindelwald. Thomas notes the skill Rowling displays in writing a gay character without having to put a gay label on him.[46]

According to Reuters, Rowling was surprised over the fuss and declined to say whether her "outing" of Dumbledore might alienate those who disapprove of homosexuality. "It has certainly never been news to me that a brave and brilliant man could love other men. He is my character. He is what he is and I have the right to say what I say about him," she said. Reaction has been mainly supportive on fans' websites, such as The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet.[47]

Actor David Thewlis (Remus Lupin) said that he was surprised about Dumbledore's sexuality, because while he was filming Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuarón had the idea that "Lupin was gay, and he described my character like a 'gay junkie'."[48]

Catholic fantasy author Regina Doman wrote an essay titled "In Defense of Dumbledore", in which she argued that the books actually support Catholic teaching on homosexuality because Dumbledore's relationship with the dark wizard Grindelwald leads to obviously terrible results, as he becomes interested in dark magic himself, neglects his responsibilities towards his younger sister and ultimately causes her death.[49][unreliable source?]

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's book reviewer Chauncey Mabe says that it was wrong for Rowling to disclose Dumbledore's sexual orientation. Mabe was clear that this was not due to Dumbledore's being gay, but to his own objections to authors continuing to talk about their books after they are written. He called for Rowling to "please be quiet, please" in "public gatherings", which is contrary to the massive popularity of Rowling's book talks and her fans' thirst for more information about characters in the Harry Potter books. Mabe notes that 1,000 children attended the "reading" before they were given autographed books. Robin Berkowitz, Sun-Sentinel Entertainment Editor says of Rowling's comments, and other revelations she might make about her characters "We don't need to know any of them to appreciate the books fully," "Don't ask, don't spell" a reference to the U.S. military's former policy on homosexuality, Don't ask, don't tell.[50] These sentiments are mirrored by Jeffrey Weiss in his article, "Harry Potter and the author who wouldn't shut up", published in the Dallas Morning News.[51]

The Washington Post's Michael Gerson says "tolerance is one of the main themes of the Harry Potter books. In a marvelous social comparison, lycanthropy is treated as a kind of chronic disease, with werewolves subject to discrimination as if they had AIDS."[52]

## Social activism

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According to Philip Nel of Kansas State University, the Potter series can be seen as "political novels that critique racism and racial superiority. Rowling, who worked for Amnesty International, evokes her social activism through Hermione's passion for oppressed elves and the formation of her "Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare".[53] Dobby the house elf has been compared to the labour lawyer Dobby Walker, who introduced Rowling's heroine, Jessica Mitford, to the Communist Party.[54][unreliable source?] Hermione is depicted as starting a campaign to emancipate the enslaved house elves, using the methods of real-world campaigns on social and political issues such as badges with slogans. She persists in this campaigning also when it is considered quixotic even by her close friends and not much appreciated even by most of the house elves themselves. But in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the campaign turns out to have had enormous unforeseen results, with house elves joining the struggle and making several indispensable contributions to Voldemort's final defeat, including saving the main protagonists' lives.

### Influence on political attitudes and voter behavior

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A 2016 study by political scientist Diana C. Mutz examined the relationship between Harry Potter readership and political attitudes during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Mutz found that individuals who read the Harry Potter series were less likely to support Donald Trump, attributing this to the books' themes of tolerance, diversity, and resistance to authoritarianism. The study suggests that literature can influence political beliefs and voter behavior.[13]

## Subversive and anarchistic message

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Gerson of the Washington Post also described what he considered to be the very subversive nature of the Harry Potter books in the answer they offer to death. Voldemort believes that death must be mastered and "beaten". In contrast, Harry accepts the necessity of his own death for the sake of love. Gerson also suggests that some will ask the book series about tolerance also be a book series about religion. He answers that many others "believe – not in spite of their faith but because of it – that half-bloods, werewolves and others should be treated with kindness and fairness. Above all, believers are called to love, even at the highest cost."[52]

In a 1999 interview with Rowling, The Guardian Unlimited's Joanna Carey said, "JK Rowling is every bit as witty and subversive as you'd expect. Rowling described her admiration of Jessica Mitford since age 14, her time at Exeter University "not quite the chance to be the 'radical' I planned", and said the later books dealing with Harry's hormones, and deaths would be unlike other children's series like the Famous Five. When Carey suggested a parallel between Harry Potter and Prince Harry, Rowling laughed it off, saying that a friend warned her to "never let the press make you discuss the royal family."[55]

James Morone wrote in the American Prospect in 2001, "Magical headmaster Albus Dumbledore practically awards bonus points for breaking rules. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is unruly, even slightly anarchic. Harry's classmate Hermione 'had become a bit more relaxed about breaking the rules,' writes Rowling near the end of Philosopher's Stone, 'and she was much nicer for it.' There's more than a touch of anarchy when all the students sing to their own tune. In her books, the kids are the central agents of their own lives. They make choices. Weigh judgments. Wrestle with freedom."[56]

Isabelle Smadja of Le Monde wrote that Harry Potter is the first fictional hero of the anti-globalist, anti-capitalist, pro-Third World, "Seattle" generation. She wrote that "Examination of the text suggests that they are, in fact, a ferocious critique of consumer society and the world of free enterprise."[57]

## Conservative objections to liberal and socialist values

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The right-wing U.S. John Birch Society has objected to Rowling's books and her public statements.[citation needed] In his article for the John Birch Society's magazine The New American, Constitution Party Communications Director Steve Bonta compared Harry Potter negatively to The Lord of the Rings, saying, "The Potter books read in places like diatribes against the modern middle class, especially whenever Harry confronts his ludicrously dysfunctional and downright abusive adopted family, the Dursleys."[58][unreliable source?][additional citation(s) needed]

## Accusations of conservative and sexist themes

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The critic Anthony Holden wrote in The Observer on his experience of judging Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for the 1999 Whitbread Awards. His overall view of the series was negative—"the Potter saga was essentially patronising, very conservative, highly derivative, dispiritingly nostalgic for a bygone Britain."[59] A review in The Guardian echoed this interpretation and stated that "despite all of the books' gestures to multiculturalism and gender equality, Harry Potter is a conservative; a paternalistic, One-Nation Tory, perhaps, but a Tory nonetheless."[60] Salon.com critic Christine Schoefer has also criticised the books as sexist, claiming that the series presents a patriarchal world filled with stereotypes and adherence to "the conventional assumption that men do and should run the world".[61]

When an interviewer suggested her books portrayed a conservative world, Rowling replied, "So I'm told repeatedly. The two groups of people who are constantly thanking me are Wiccans and boarding schools. And really, don't thank me. I'm not with either of them. New ageism leaves me completely cold, and [my daughter] would never go to boarding school. I went to a comprehensive."[62]

Rowling says she gets frustrated with the "conservative world thing". She made Hogwarts a boarding school so that action could happen in the middle of the night and to create a sense of community among the characters. Harry also reflects the modern world, she argues, in that he is mixed race — his father being pure-blood, his mother being Muggle-born.[62] She also says her feminist conscience is saved by Hermione, "who's the brightest character" and is a "very strong female character".[63]

## Neoliberal and capitalist values

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Literary scholar Ilias Yocaris argued that Harry Potter "probably unintentionally ... appears as a summary of the social and educational aims of neoliberal capitalism." According to Yocaris' analysis, all life at Hogwarts is dominated by a culture of competition: "competition among students to be prefect; competition among Hogwarts houses to gain points; competition among sorcery schools to win the Triwizard tournament; and, ultimately, the bloody competition between the forces of Good and Evil." The free market plays a prominent and positive role, while the state (the Ministry of Magic) is presented as inefficient and bureaucratic. In this "pitiless jungle", education only aims to "give students an immediately exploitable practical knowledge that can help them in their battle to survive," while artistic subjects and social sciences are useless or absent. Yocaris concludes that "like Orwellian totalitarianism, this capitalism tries to fashion not only the real world, but also the imagination of consumer-citizens," producing literature that suggests that no alternative is possible.[64] Michael Ostling also argued that the series depicts a modern capitalist and consumerist society, where the role of gadgetry is played by magic.[65]

## Class distinctions

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O: The Oprah Magazine noted that Rowling admires Roddy Doyle and Jane Austen, saying "both of whom write about class distinctions," and asked if the reason Rowling wrote about class was a conscious decision. Rowling replied, "kids are acutely aware of money—before they're aware of class. A kid isn't really going to notice how another kid holds his knife and fork. But a kid will be acutely aware that he doesn't have pocket money. Or that he doesn't have as much pocket money. I think back to myself at 11. Kids can be mean, very mean. So it was there in Ron not having the proper length robes, you know? And not being able to buy stuff on the trolley. He's got to have sandwiches his mum made for him, even though he doesn't like the sandwiches. Having enough money to fit in is an important facet of life—and what is more conformist than a school?"[63][additional citation(s) needed]

## Anti-government interpretation

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Libertarians Chris Van Landingham and Benjamin Barton see J. K. Rowling's portrayal of the bureaucratised Ministry of Magic and the oppressive measures taken by the Ministry in the later books (like making attendance at Hogwarts School compulsory and the "registration of Mudbloods" with the Ministry) as an allegory criticising the state.[66][67][verification needed] Barton says, "Rowling's scathing portrait of government is surprisingly strident and effective. This is partly because her critique works on so many levels: the functions of government, the structure of government, and the bureaucrats who run the show. All three elements work together to depict a Ministry of Magic run by self-interested bureaucrats bent on increasing and protecting their power, often to the detriment of the public at large. In other words, Rowling creates a public-interest scholar's dream—or nightmare—government."[67]

## Characters compared to George Bush, Tony Blair, and Saddam Hussein

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Newsweek magazine asked Alfonso Cuarón, director of the third film based on Rowling's Prisoner of Azkaban if the villainous wizard Voldemort still reminded him of George W. Bush. Cuarón confirmed, "In combination with Saddam. They both have selfish interests and are very much in love with power. Also, a disregard for the environment. A love for manipulating people. I read books four and five, and Fudge is similar to Tony Blair. He's the ultimate politician. He's in denial about many things. And everything is for the sake of his own persona, his own power. The way the Iraq thing was handled was not unlike the way Fudge handled affairs in book four."[68]

Philosopher Jean-Claude Milner claimed "Harry Potter is a war machine against the Thatcherite-Blairist world and the 'American Way of Life'" in France's Libération.[38]

Slate Magazine also says Rowling takes jabs at the Bush and Blair administrations suggesting the Ministry of Magic's security pamphlet recalls the much-scorned Operation TIPS (Terrorism Information and Prevention System). The author also suggests that Azkaban, the wizard penitentiary, is a stand-in for Guantanamo Bay.[69]

The People's World claimed the books draw you "into the politics of the wizarding world—the 'Educational Decrees' from the toad-like Ministry of Magic representative, the high-level connections of 'war criminals' from the last rise of Voldemort, the predjudice [sic] against 'mudbloods' and 'half-breeds.'" They suggest connections "to the world we live in, to the similarities and differences between the Fudge administration and the Bush administration".[70]

Rowling has never confirmed these interpretations in Harry Potter; however, when the then Chancellor Gordon Brown once asked her to endorse the Labour Party while Tony Blair was Prime Minister, Rowling refused.[71] Rowling attacked the Blair government's policy on single parent families. She said that Labour could do "a good deal more" and then donated £500,000 to the One Parent Families charity to set an example.[71] Rowling said that Brown's measures for children 'would have made a real difference to my family's life' when she was poor.[72] Rowling donated £1 million to the Labour Party during the 2010 general election.[73]

## Education reform in The Order of the Phoenix

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The Scotsman cites "Delighted teachers who have hailed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as a blistering satire on years of politically motivated interference in the running of schools".[74]

Rowling describes her character Dolores Umbridge, the Ministry-appointed headmistress of Hogwarts and under-secretary to the minister, Cornelius Fudge, saying "She has good contacts at the Ministry. She is one of those people, and they do exist in real life, who will always side with the established order. As far as she is concerned authority cannot be wrong so she doesn't question it, and I would go as far as to say that whatever happened and whoever took over at the Ministry, Umbridge would be there, she likes power. So she is going to side with the people who give her the authority."[22][non-primary source needed]

Andrew Slack, founder of the Harry Potter Alliance, writes about the "Muggle Mindset" in which "Lindsay Lohan supersedes news about genocide, men assess their 'worth' by their paychecks, women's bodies are treated as commodities and our educational system preoccupies itself not with stimulating children's curiosity but rather getting them to efficiently regurgitate information on standardised tests."[75]

Hungarian Secretary of State for Education Rózsa Hoffmann and her reforms received comparisons to Dolores Umbridge and her actions in the novels.[76][77][78]

## Anti-terrorism

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The Capitalism Magazine website says that, "With a long-term war in progress and threats of further terrorist attacks on American soil," Harry Potter isn't mere escapism and "shows a world in which happiness can be achieved, villains can be defeated, and the means of success can be learned."[79][unreliable source?]

Time magazine says that by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, "Harry is embroiled in a borderless, semi-civil war with a shadowy, hidden leader whose existence the government ignored until disaster forced the issue and who is supported by a secret network of sleeper agents willing to resort to tactics of shocking cruelty. The kids who grew up on Harry Potter—you could call them Generation Hex—are the kids who grew up with the pervasive threat of terrorism, and it's inevitable that on some level they'll make a connection between the two."[37]

Slate Magazine's Julia Turner compares Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to the War on Terror in the context of the fight against Osama bin Laden saying Voldemort takes up terrorism by destroying bridges, murdering innocents, and forcing children to kill their elders. She also notes the parallels in the community's response saying Fred and George Weasley's shop makes a mint selling Shield Cloaks and the new Minister for Magic jails an innocent man, hoping to stave off panic and create the impression that he's taking action.[69]

Steven Fielding argued that the changing portrayal of the Ministry of Magic – from incompetent to authoritarian – reflects Rowling's views on the War on terror.[80]

Rowling said "I've never thought, 'It's time for a post-9/11 Harry Potter book,' no. But what Voldemort does, in many senses, is terrorism, and that was quite clear in my mind before 9/11 happened.... but there are parallels, obviously. I think one of the times I felt the parallels was when I was writing about the arrest of Stan Shunpike, you know? I always planned that these kinds of things would happen, but these have very powerful resonances, given that I believe, and many people believe, that there have been instances of persecution of people who did not deserve to be persecuted, even while we're attempting to find the people who have committed utter atrocities. These things just happen, it's human nature. There were some very startling parallels at the time I was writing it."[81][better source needed]

## Harry Potter used by political activists

[edit]

### KidSPEAK!

[edit]

In response to restricted access to the Harry Potter books[82] children began a letter-writing campaign, forming clubs and organising petitions, which ultimately merged into an internet site called Muggles for Harry Potter. The site evolved into kidSPEAK!, a forum for children to tackle censorship in general, and to fight for Harry Potter specifically.

### The Harry Potter Alliance

[edit]

Main article: Harry Potter Alliance

Andrew Slack, an actor/comedian and Harry Potter aficionado, co-founded the Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) to highlight the crisis in Sudan and social inequities.[83] In These Times featured Slack in 2007, in an article about Muggle Activists where Slack said, "The Harry Potter parallel to Darfur is simple: With both the Ministry of Magic and the Daily Prophet (the Wizarding World's mainstream news source) in denial that Voldemort has returned and evil is afoot, Harry and his underground rebel group, 'Dumbledore's Army,' work with the adult group, 'The Order of the Phoenix,' to awake the world. We in the Alliance seek to be Dumbledore's Army for the real world, working with anti-genocide organisations, such as 'Fidelity Out of Sudan' and the 'Genocide Intervention Network,' to wake our governments, corporations and media up to the fact that 'never again' means 'never again.'"[84]

When Time magazine asked about The Harry Potter Alliance, Rowling said, "It's incredible, it's humbling, and it's uplifting to see people going out there and doing that in the name of your character. What did my books preach against throughout? Bigotry, violence, struggles for power, no matter what. All of these things are happening in Darfur. So they really couldn't have chosen a better cause."[85] Rowling awarded The Harry Potter Alliance a Fan Site Award in December 2007.[citation needed]

In February 2010, the HPA ran a massive fundraiser to support those in dire need after the tragic event of the Haiti earthquake. Live webcasts were held in which celebrities (especially those a part of the Harry Potter Fandom) performed and encouraged viewers to donate money. Donations came through an auction that did not guarantee you the prize. Some items that were up for bid were: a signed set of the Harry Potter books, a guitar signed by actor Tom Felton, handmade earrings from actress Evanna Lynch, and a one thousand word story about whatever the winner wishes it to be written by Maureen Johnson and John Green. The webcasts were rather successful, garnering over $125,000. The original plan of Helping Haiti Heal was to have three plane fulls of aid (each one dubbed: Harry, Hermione, and Ron) shipped off to Haiti. As of June the same year, five planes were sent to Haiti, Harry, Hermione, Ron, DFTBA (Don't Forget To Be Awesome) and the last being Dumbledore. On 28 June, there was a livestream video celebrating the landing of Dumbledore. Evanna Lynch was present at the stream and even answered questions asked by fans. Ophelia Dahl, the daughter of the late British author Roald Dahl was also present since she worked with Partners in Health, who the Harry Potter Alliance teamed up with for Helping Haiti Heal.[86]

In March 2010, The Harry Potter Alliance had a campaign for people to send in their books to the Mississippi Delta which went to Rwanda. As of June, when the campaign ended, they donated over 40,000 books. In July 2010, The Harry Potter Alliance won $250,000 in the Chase Community Giving contest. The money will go towards literacy, LGBT rights, and online community building.[citation needed]

### Stop Big Media

[edit]

Stop Big Media gained support from "Rocking Out Against Voldemedia", a compilation of ten original songs by ten Harry Potter-themed "Wizard Rock" bands. Andrew Slack and The Harry Potter Alliance compare media consolidation in the U.S. to the control of the Ministry of Magic over the Daily Prophet in the Harry Potter books, saying "Once Voldemort took over every form of media in the Wizarding World, Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix formed an independent media movement called "Potterwatch". Now the HP Alliance and Wizard Rock have come together to fight for a Potterwatch movement in the real world to fight back against Big VoldeMedia from further pushing out local and foreign news, minority representation, and the right to a Free Press."[87]

### Center for Science in the Public Interest

[edit]

Main article: Center for Science in the Public Interest

A worldwide campaign to "save Harry Potter from the clutches of the Coca-Cola Company" was launched by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. The group says that by aggressively marketing sugar- and caffeine-laden drinks to young fans of the Harry Potter series, Coke is helping fuel the childhood obesity epidemic.[88]

## See also

[edit]

* Political views of J. K. Rowling

## References

[edit]

1. ^ McLemee, Scott Pottering Around Inside Higher Ed, 18 July 2007
2. ^ *The Telegraph, 2007-07-20.
* Edinburgh News Archived 29 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, The Scotsman.
* Babson professor makes Harry P. an academic star Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
* "Wisdom of Harry Potter" author to offer fall college course
* Charlotte Observer[dead link‍]
* "The World of Harry Potter". Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
3. ^ Gibbs, Nancy (19 December 2007). "Time Magazine". Time. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
4. ^ *Readers Of the World, Unite: Metro Santa Cruz Archived 24 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
* Time Magazine Archived 12 September 2012 at archive.today
5. ^ Edward (20 October 2007). "J. K. Rowling at Carnegie Hall Reveals Dumbledore is Gay; Neville Marries Hannah Abbott, and Much More". The-leaky-cauldron.org. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
6. ^ *Entertainment Weekly, October 2007
* The Leaky Cauldron
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11. ^ Barratt 2012.
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## Bibliography

[edit]

* Barratt, B. (9 November 2012). The Politics of Harry Potter. Springer. ISBN 978-1-137-01654-6.
* Bell, Christopher E. (27 January 2016). "Heroes and Horcruxes: Dumbledore's Army as Metonym". In Christopher E. Bell (ed.). Wizards vs. Muggles: Essays on Identity and the Harry Potter Universe. McFarland. pp. 72–. ISBN 978-0-7864-9930-4.
* Biondi, Carrie-Ann, ed., "Imagining Better: Philosophical Issues in Harry Potter," in Reason Papers: A Journal of Interdisciplinary Normative Studies, vol. 34, no. 2 (June 2012).[unreliable source?]
* Darcy, Ann Catherine (20 July 2021). "Harry Potter: Why Dumbledore's Army Is So Important". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
* Rodeheaver, Misty D; Gradwell, Jill M; Dahlgren, Robert L (26 January 2015). ""We are Dumbledore's Army:" Forging the Foundation For Future Upstanders". Journal of International Social Studies. 4 (2): 57–72\. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2021.57-72&rft.date=2015-01-26&rft.aulast=Rodeheaver&rft.aufirst=Misty+D&rft.au=Gradwell,+Jill+M&rft.au=Dahlgren,+Robert+L&rft_id=https://iajiss.org/index.php/iajiss/article/view/155&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Politics+of+Harry+Potter" class="Z3988">
* Rovan, Marcie Panutsos (22 July 2020). "Dumbledore's Army: A Case for Peer Tutoring". In Marcie Panutsos Rovan; Melissa Wehler (eds.). Lessons from Hogwarts: Essays on the Pedagogy of Harry Potter. McFarland. p. 35\. ISBN 978-1-4766-4027-3.
* Sperger, Lena (19 February 2019). "World War II. Influence on the Harry Potter Series". The Circular. Retrieved 19 December 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

* Wizarding World

Books|

| Main novels|

* The Philosopher's Stone
* The Chamber of Secrets
* The Prisoner of Azkaban
* The Goblet of Fire
* The Order of the Phoenix
* The Half-Blood Prince
* The Deathly Hallows

|

Spin-offs|

* Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
* Quidditch Through the Ages
* The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Short stories|

* Prequel
* Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide
* Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists
* Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies

Feature films|

| Harry Potter
(cast · music)|

* The Philosopher's Stone
* soundtrack, "Hedwig's Theme"
* The Chamber of Secrets
* soundtrack
* The Prisoner of Azkaban
* soundtrack
* The Goblet of Fire
* soundtrack
* The Order of the Phoenix
* soundtrack
* The Half-Blood Prince
* soundtrack
* The Deathly Hallows – Part 1
* production
* soundtrack
* The Deathly Hallows – Part 2
* production
* soundtrack
* accolades

|

Fantastic Beasts
(cast · characters)|

* Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
* soundtrack
* The Crimes of Grindelwald
* soundtrack
* The Secrets of Dumbledore

Characters|

* Harry Potter
* Ron Weasley
* Hermione Granger
* Lord Voldemort
* Albus Dumbledore
* Severus Snape
* Rubeus Hagrid
* Minerva McGonagall
* Draco Malfoy
* Neville Longbottom
* Fred and George Weasley
* Ginny Weasley
* Sirius Black
* Remus Lupin
* Cedric Diggory
* Bellatrix Lestrange
* Dolores Umbridge
* Luna Lovegood
* Blaise Zabini
* List of all characters

| Groups|

* Hogwarts staff
* Order of the Phoenix
* Death Eaters
* Ministry of Magic

|

Fictional universe|

* Magic
* Creatures
* Objects
* Places
* Hogwarts
* Beauxbatons
* Muggle
* Quidditch

Other works|

* Wizarding World Digital
* The Cursed Child
* Hogwarts Tournament of Houses
* 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts

Inspired media|

| Video games|

* Lego Creator: Harry Potter
* The Philosopher's Stone (2001)
* PlayStation
* PC
* Game Boy Advance
* Game Boy Color
* The Chamber of Secrets
* Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
* Quidditch World Cup
* The Philosopher's Stone (2003)
* The Prisoner of Azkaban
* The Goblet of Fire
* The Order of the Phoenix
* The Half-Blood Prince
* Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4
* The Deathly Hallows – Part 1
* The Deathly Hallows – Part 2
* Lego Harry Potter: Years 5–7
* Harry Potter for Kinect
* Book of Spells
* Book of Potions
* Lego Dimensions
* Fantastic Beasts: Cases From the Wizarding World
* Hogwarts Mystery
* Wizards Unite
* Magic Awakened
* Hogwarts Legacy
* Quidditch Champions

|

Attractions|

* The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
* Orlando
* Japan
* Hollywood
* Dragon Challenge
* Flight of the Hippogriff
* Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
* The Escape from Gringotts
* The Forbidden Journey
* Hogwarts Express
* Movie Magic Experience

Exhibitions|

* The Exhibition
* A History of Magic
* Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

Other|

* Lego Harry Potter
* Trading Card Game

Fandom|

* A Celebration of Harry Potter
* Drarry
* Fandom Forward
* The Leaky Cauldron
* Mischief Management
* MuggleNet
* Scorbus
* Wizard rock
* Wolfstar
* Wrockstock

| Fan fictions|

* All the Young Dudes
* Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality
* Hogwarts School of Prayer and Miracles
* My Immortal

|

Fan films|

* Hermione Granger and the Quarter Life Crisis
* Severus Snape and the Marauders
* Voldemort: Origins of the Heir

Parodies|

| A Very Potter Musical|

* A Very Potter Musical
* album
* A Very Potter Sequel
* EP
* A Very Potter Senior Year

|

Other|

* Epic Movie
* Muddle Earth Too
* Skulduggery Pleasant: Resurrection
* Potter Puppet Pals
* Puffs
* Wizard People, Dear Reader

Related|

* Influences and analogues
* Legal disputes
* List of organisms named after the Harry Potter series
* Politics
* Portkey Games
* Religious debates
* Translation
* Harry, A History
* Harry Potter and the Sacred Text
* The Harry Potter Lexicon
* The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter
* Pollomuhku ja Posityyhtynen
* Potterless
* Heyday Films

* Category
* Outline

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*[e]: Edit this template