HHH : Heroism, Hope, Howling

Yohan Lainé

“There has to be a symbol.” “What Kind ?” “One of Peace””. Considering the society we live in, it would be quite normal to associate this sentence to one of the political leaders of this contemporary period. Nevertheless, this quote comes from a Japanese work called “My Hero Academia” and written by Kohei Horikoshi. It is partially thanks to his work, which might be considered childish due to the bourgeois valorization of arts, that I believe in the importance of heroism in the advent of future howling. In fact, during the last vicennial, we discovered a fragment of Human nature that we all thought disappeared with the end of the Cold War : Malice. 

After the victory of capitalism over what was considered communism, a small peaceful period was enjoyable. A period that did not last long due to the disproportion of Human ego. This phenomenon caused what was stated before as Malice. According to the “Le Robert” dictionary, Malice corresponds to the way of thinking in which someone takes pleasure in participating in the impoverishment of others, an impoverishment that could be either psychological, sociological, symbolic or physical. 

Thus, as proved by history, heroism could be the solution leading different howling through the world in order to face the common enemy that is Malice : here is the idea we are going to analyse through this paper. Heroism should not be understood here as a childish concept, the one being shown in the collective imaginary with superpowers. No. Here heroism should be understood as a phenomenon coming from a person or a group of people aiming to help emphatically and not profitably the ones in difficulty. 

The word is at the boiling point, an individual’s help will not be necessary to save and help people against the Malice inhabiting the others. Therefore, heroism should be the leaders of multiple social howling which would make a change if they were fully launched. 

In this case, we can ask ourselves : “How a childish concept as heroism can be the stepping stone of a hoped for howling.”. Firstly we will deal with a global presentation of heroism as a new theory in International Relations, then we will tackle the weakening of a feeling inhabiting ancient civilisations and lastly we will stress on the renaissance. 

2/ Why Heroism ? 

            2.1/ Heroism as an explanation of revolts 

Whenever the topic of International Relations emerges during a public conversation, geopolitical conflicts are the first topic to be thought of. Tremendous wars, economic embargo or detrimental ideologies echo in the back of the discussions. Nonetheless, it seems quite clear that no theories really explain a feeling that has inhabited populations all over the world and which continues to animate people’s hearts : hope, a hope for better lives, a feeling often taken away and recoverable through social howling. 

Indeed, it has been shown through history that most of the time, the giants do not want to give the power to the dwarfs and this is due to multiple reasons. However, the dwarfs have proven that thanks to rebellions they would be able to overthrow the biggest giant of their epoch. Now the question is simple : Why did these rebellions appear in the past and continue to appear ? 

As a matter of fact, it is clear that the angriness and the sadness of the dwarfs are what led them to this justified violence. Notwithstanding, it is necessary to mention that each time, there is a little dwarf sounding the alarm which later causes these massive movements. This dwarf is identified during or after the rebellion as a figure who helped the people, an hero who thanks to this call and the help of his colleagues helped the population.

One of the major revolution in Europe, the French Revolution, concretely proves this theory. Indeed before the revolution that we know began, between the 9 and the 17 of July, multiple protests happened in the country. However, when the lawyer and journalist Camille Desmoulins decided to raise his voice and say “A prendre les armes contre le gouvernement du roi” (Camille Desmoulins, 1866). This exclamation led to the looting of the jail “La Bastille” 10 hours after and the storming of the jail two days later. One person became a national symbol for all and a hero for some as he motivated the population to empower what they wished for. 

2.2/ A complex theory, balanced between freedom and terror

            First and foremost, after understanding that heroism plays a key role in the building of a social howling, it is significant to underline the complexity of this theory which makes it unforeseeable. Indeed it is important to notify that heroism can be misunderstood for idolatry making it more dangerous than before. 

            In fact, according to the writings of Bertrand Vergely, the ones aiming to be hero for the value of the title and not for its implications is condemned to be a “megalomaniac” whose goal is to bend the others to his desires, passions through a “tyrannical violence and illusion” (Bertrand Vergely, 2007). In history, we have seen multiple examples of leaders who aimed to be heroes and therefore led a changing movement, a rebellion which was not led by heroism but by idolatry; making Malice the center of the social howling and not Hope. For instance, this is observable during the emergence of totalitarianism in the 1920’s. Totalitarianism, an ideology present for instance during Stalin or hitler’s regimes, aims to distinguish the leader as a superhuman, a deity. Therefore, we can observe a personality cult emerging in these societies leading civilians in a detrimental rebellion for them and for the others (Intégrer Science Po, 2024). While civilians considered these leaders as heroes meant to save the country and the world from an imaginary threat, the cult around them made it idolatry not heroism. Furthermore, whenever heroism is diverted from its original path composed of empathy and humility and becomes idolatry, we can clearly observe the want of the leader : being served, not serving for the others. As mentioned before, this phenomenon is part of the totalitarian regime as the leaders used to be animated by a powerful feeling of yearning aiming to place them at the top of the human pyramid. It was done through media and art, two methods which could be resumed in propaganda but also through charismatic speeches, a historically argued legitimacy and the support of terror. Thus, as Hope would normally be put in the center of any social howling due to a collective want of happiness and freedom, here when heroism is derived, Malice impacts the rebellions making their collective want based on hatred and aversion. 

            Furthermore, it is important to notice that heroism can also be derived towards Malice in a more subtle way: through the voluntary servitude. Coming from the French writer Etienne de la Boétie, this theory argues that sometimes Malice copies parts of heroism and changes others so as to not be recognized as idolatry while being close to heroism. To understand more this concept, we will produce a brief explanation of the steps allowing the voluntary servitude which allows the appearance of tyranny:

1. In order to copy one of the aspects of heroism, the tyrant recognizes that he cannot practise his power without the support of a majority of civilians. He takes his power from others just like the heroes during social howling do. 
2. Nonetheless, La Boetie also argues that through multiple mechanisms such as habit, illusion of the legitimate power, rewards and ignorance linked with fear; the tyrant appearing as a hero to everybody uses Malice to influence the population and make them accept his ruling without necessarily using the force. Thus, there is a voluntary servitude (La Boétie, 1576). 

2.3/ Albeit complex, heroism is present since antiquity to nowadays

            Even though there are some difficulties with heroism depending on how the concept is used and by who, it can still work. Indeed, every theory or concept in International Relations has successes and failures, here are going to be presented few of the successes in order to prove the significance of heroism in social howling.

In Antiquity, a period lasting from -3300 before J.C to 476 after J.C, we observe a form of heroism. First and foremost, in charge of the slave’s revolt in Antique Rome during 73 and 71 before J.C, Spartacus embodies the true symbol of heroism in his time. Indeed, he led the 3rd servile war against Rome with an army between 40000 and 70000 soldiers aiming to free all the slaves and counter the unequal power present at this time. He was recognized by his heroism due to his call for a revolt, his improvements inasmuch as Romans feared his success and also for thinking about all slaves and not only himself. Indeed, his plan was to free all the slaves on the way to the north of the country in order to help every slave returning to their native home (Ono-dit-Biot, 2020, February 9). His heroism was admired by the slaves captured but also by all the slaves coming after him. Regarding the regions they came from, by hearing the story of Spartacus, hope emerged and social howling were now understood as maybe possible (Wikipedia, 2026, January 8).

In the Middle Age, in the French province was born the heroism of Jeanne d’Arc. Jeanne was born in January 1412 in a family of well off persons. However in 1425, she started hearing voices from religious entities and decided that she was god’s envoy whose goal was to go to France, anoint Monseigneur le Dauphin and then stop the war between Britain and France. After multiple perilous journeys, she succeeded in taking back the city of Orleans which gave hope and courage to the French soldiers. Additionally, she succeeded in anointing Monseigneur le Dauphin. Even after some years in the army defending her compatriots, she was sent to the British and was burnt alive as a punishment and therefore not fully recognized as a hero. She is nowadays. Indeed, it is true that later on in the 1800’s she started embodying a national symbol, the one that helped to free the country as mentioned for instance by Jules Quicherat. She was a symbol of resistance and freedom with a pure heart and she continues to embody this type of figure.

Even though it is not fully recognized by historians as a specific period but more as part of the Middle Age, the Renaissance is an epoch which marked Europe significantly through the emergence of humanism. While improvements were done in Europe such as in the artistic/humanitarian field, on the other side of the world, the Spanish discovery and imperialism impacted indigenous societies living in America causing the emergence of a heroism that should not have been created. In fact, during the Spanish invasion of what is now Guatemala, the indigenous population suffered a lot and needed someone to lead a form of opposition. Therefore, in order to struggle against the attacks of Spain, especially the ones of Pedro de Alvarado, Tecún Umán, the leader of the K’iche’ population fought back and led an army against the settlers aiming to protect his culture and his own. Thus, in February 1524, he fought the Spanish conqueror in the lands of El Pinal. According to the stories, he was already perceived as an hero inasmuch as he arrived with a chest covered with Quetzal feathers, a traditional weapon and a huge determination; but also due to the fact that he was somehow able to sit astride Alvaro’s horse showing that he was neither afraid nor weak. Later on the 22 of March 1960, he became a National Hero for Guatemala as he was considered a symbol of  “struggle and dignity for the Guatemalan people” (Cetino, 2025 January 17). 

Furthermore, during the Modern times, other heroes appeared, ready to defend their people, such as Queen Nanny in Jamaica. As a matter of fact, known as “Nanny of the Maroons”, queen Nanny was the leader of the Maroons population who struggled against the British Invasion of Jamaica. As the leader of this group, she played a key role in the protection of her people. Therefore, during the First Maroon War which lasted from 1728 to 1739, Queen Nanny decided to embark on a specific war strategy called : guerilla. Her idea was brilliant. She used what the settlers qualified as useless, the geographical knowledge of the Maroons which helped Queen Nanny leading multiple operations such as ambushes, raids or surprise attacks resulting in the disruption of Britain’s organization and economy. Thus, by creating this “aura of invincibility”, she succeeded thanks to her ideas and the knowledge of her people to protect the population of the main indigenous city : Nanny town. In the end, by signing the controversial^[7] treaty of 1740, she succeeded in having the recognition of her population and the right to have their own organization and way of living without dependency on the British (Thompson, 2024, December 22).

Lastly, during the Contemporary period, in Kenya an heroine emerged. She was called Wangari Maathai.Wangari was a Kenyan woman who launched the project “Green Belt”, a changing project. Indeed, this project aimed to reforest the land affected by deforestation and in result, Wangaru succeeded two changes in one. First her group planted more than 50 million trees in 2021 reducing poverty and improving alimentary security. Secondly, her group was essentially composed of women making the initiative feminist. Therefore, as a non influential Kenyan woman she decided to fight for her country by reforesting it and for her people by using only women (Stegassy, 2025, July 25). 

In conclusion, we can notice that since Antiquity, heroism has been present and has led multiple social movements helping countries and societies to fight back and to live in a hope for happiness and not in the Malice ruling on the underneath of societies.

3/ A Nihilistic weakening : Pandemonium

Conversely, even though heroism has proved its worth, the 20th and the beginning of the 21th century have been victim of more than a disaster, something emerged : The Pandemonium. In fact, in these centuries, we observed that there is a complete banalisation of violence in every society. 

First of all, the First and the Second World War have shattered the world. The violence (military, scientifically or morally) which emerged during both armed conflicts demonstrates to what degree there was a weak interest for Humanity at this epoch. Indeed, both wars caused approximately 80 million deaths in addition to horrible techniques used to take over the opponent. Among them are the use of Atomic Bomb by the US over Japan, the use of gas chambers by the Nazi so as to eliminate the Jews or the use of experimental sciences on Jews and Gypsy by the Nazi to prove their inferiority.  Combined with an overall grief slowing down the social howlings and a complete shock, both wars have prevented the emergence of heroism, therefore giving Carte Blanche to Malice. 

Sadly this is what happened. In fact even though some events of liberation which is part of the decolonization process brought hope to the world, the Cold War and the post Cold War state have bolstered the reinforcement of this nihilistic weakening of heroism through the emergence of the Pandemonium. Since the beginning of the Cold War until nowadays, the world has been shattered by blood, betrayal, fire, poverty and death through the interventionism of multiple countries such as the 5 ones present in the Security Council of the UN : France, UK, China, USA, Russia. Additionally, other aspects such as imperialism, the US supremacy, the overall and general violation of the international law, religions and neo colonialism have participated in this wrench. Among all the detrimental consequences caused by this pandemonium, completely desired by the powerful countries of our epoch, here is a list of some of them : 

1. Vietnam war 
2. Algerian war 
3. Afghanistan war 
4. The US course against terrorism  
5. Venezuelan-US conflict 
6. Attacks on Iraq
7. Attacks on Syria
8. The independence of East Timor
9. The rise of extreme right in Europe 
10. The Ouighours’ case in China
11. The Sudanese crisis 
12. The Congolese crisis
13. The Israel-Palestine conflict 
14. The Cuban Crisis 
15. The Ukrainian war 

Consequently, as the pandemonium seized control, heroism fell in the oblivion of societies. As the fallen angel of our times, heroism was ousted by Malice who caused so much violence that populations stopped thinking optimistically about humanity. Instead, they accepted what was going on, in a nihilistic tone like if the new world motto was : “We cannot do anything anymore so why bother about this” .

4/ The Glimmer of Hope 

4.1/ A generational movement

“Faites mieux que ma génération qui n’est arrivée à rien ! Abattez la citadelle ! N’écoutez jamais personne qui vous dira de reculer, d’arrêter, de céder ! […] Vous devez travailler inlassablement à mieux comprendre les mécanismes qui unissent le capitalisme quotidien à la catastrophe qui s’avance vers l’humanité.” (Sabo Nmous, 2023). These words were pronounced by Jean Luc Melenchon, the leader of the LFI political party in France at the Humanity event of 2023. Here, the principles of the social howling animating our societies and the people needing to do it are clearly evoked.

First of all, as Melenchon explained there is an overall feeling of deception by generation Z over the frailty and the apathy of the previous generations who could have changed something but did not. This feeling leads the new generation to a very specific path, the one of social howling. Yet, it has been shown through 2025 that the message of Melenchon had been understood. Indeed, multiple events happened : 

1. In Peru for instance, the youth fight against the established order by protesting in the streets even against the police violence, the proclamation of urgency by the state or massive arrests. They aim for the end of corruption, insecurity, precarity and inequalities.
2. Furthermore, in Maroc, a movement emerged called  GenZ 212 aiming to protest in order to solve some detrimental issues such as the degradation of public services, precarity and unemployment. Even though the protest faces multiple hurdles caused by the governments, even though their goal is considered unreachable, they continue to fight.
3. Lastly in East Timor, in Dili, multiple students decided to mobilize themselves in order to protest against a possible law allowing the purchase of luxury cars to the parliamentarians while the rest of the population is facing a huge poverty. This time, the protest worked and the law was canceled.     

The new generation found this force in a clear social structure. In fact,  thanks to social media they succeeded in sharing information about their situations to the whole world leading to the emergence of protests at different points of the world on the same topic. The best example to illustrate this phenomenon is the conflicts that happened in Gaza. Indeed, after a few weeks, videos were shown in social media of the atrocities done by the Israeli Army leading other youth in the words to start social howling in favor of the Palestinians such as in France, Spain or Germany. 

4.2/ An anti-capitalist howling

First and Foremost, it is important to notice that capitalism is the center of the social howling animating the GenZ. Indeed as Melenchon was explaining in his discourse, the new generation understands that due to its pure essence, capitalism corresponds to an enemy for the environment and for humanity. Capitalism is an economic system which bases its success on deforestation, the erosion of soils, social exploitation, corruption, illegal work etc… Due to its lack of ethics and the realization of the GenZ, capitalism is considered as a common enemy that needs to be defeated. Therefore they decide to protest, boycott and act daily in order to defeat in the long term a system that alienates and destroys everything it touches. 

Furthermore, as capitalism is based on the success of one person and the failure of another one, the GenZ criticizes this system which can only benefit the more powerful ones while the less powerful are dying in the streets.

Lastly, you may ask yourself where is heroism in all of these social howlings happening all over the world. Nowadays, social howlings are characterized by another type of heroism. While before, populations needed to be represented by someone, now the world is animated by a collective heroism shaping the future clash between the one in power and the one wanting an equal balance. 

5/ A call for Help 

            Considering the world we live in and the role Malice plays in our societies, I truly believe that we should be conscient of what is happening and we should act. Thousands of people are dying, nobody is reacting. Thousands of children are dying without their family, without their relatives while it’s their first time living too; nobody is reacting. Women are being raped, nobody is reacting. Decades of culture and life are being devastated by the want of power, nobody is reacting. 

This will who never wants to let us, to let them breathe a bit. So now maybe it’s time to dissociate with Malice and to embrace empathy, discussion, help, kindness, Hope : Heroism