Abstract
As an avid fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I attempt to use economics and US history to find where the original Sokovia Accords fall short of their objectives and how to remedy such flaws. This paper lays out a framework for a revised system that will more effectively protect the public from collateral damages incurred from super-heroics.
Revising the Sokovia Accords
In 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, we see the public outlook on superheroes take a drastic turn. In stark contrast with the news footage of smiling, grateful crowds seen at the end of 2012’s The Avengers, we have a mother confronting Iron Man over the death of her son and a massive call for accountability. As a result, a policy was drafted and subsequently signed and ratified by 117 countries to put heroes on a leash. The Sokovia Accords were created to protect the public from the inevitable damage incurred by acts of heroism. While this may seem to be a good practice on the surface, a closer examination shows that the system the Sokovia Accords prescribe is deeply flawed. On the other hand, a similar story can be seen in real world events. During the Panic of 1907, we have a real life “superhero” in J. Pierpont Morgan as he stepped in and rescued the public from economic destruction. In his story, we learn what steps our real world has taken and how the Federal Reserve system was created in response to Morgan’s heroics. By adapting the organizational structure of the real-world Fed, the Sokovia Accords would be greatly improved and much more capable at fulfilling their purpose to protect the public from wanton destruction.
To understand the flaws behind the Sokovia Accords, one must understand the foundation it was built upon. In Captain America: Civil War, we see the Secretary of State, Thaddeus Ross, meet with the Avengers to explain the Accords that would be put in place for the protection of the world’s population. During their meeting, he illustrates what I call the Ross Model. He presents his personal belief that while many consider the Avengers to be heroes, he considers them “dangerous” (Captain America: Civil War), and shows them archive footage of heartbreaking destruction they leave in their wake. He further claims they “seem unconcerned with what they leave behind”. He concludes that the solution to keep the public safe is to leash these heroes, and presets the Sokovia Accords. If all of the assumptions made in the Ross Model are true, then the Sokovia Accords should hold up as the best way to protect the general public; however, we have evidence from across the MCU that directly challenge the Ross Model.
First of all, we must address whether or not the heroes are a danger to society. Without the Time Stone at our disposal, it’s impossible to establish true counterfactuals to Sec. Ross’ claims. The best we can do is to specify instances where we have a villain threatening public safety and what their end goals were. To begin, let’s address Loki. His unrealized goal to be a king drove him to invade Earth with an army of chitauri. His intentions are made clear in his attack at Stuttgart, Germany. After chasing attendees of a gala out into the streets, he surrounds them and commands, “Kneel before me!” before delivering his “you were made to be ruled” speech (The Avengers). If the Avengers had not shown up and thwarted Loki’s plans, it’s safe to assume that with his alien army, Jotun/Asgardian might, and the power of an infinity stone, Loki would have subjugated the world’s population. If the Avengers had not been there, the public would have faced a great danger.
Our second counterfactual against the Ross Model addresses the assumption that heroes are unconcerned with their aftermath. Evidence against this can be found during Avengers: Age of Ultron. While under the influence of Scarlet Witch, Dr. Banner loses control of the Hulk and begins an ugly assault on Johannesburg, South Africa. During the battle, Iron Man is actively purchasing buildings and plotting “paths of least destruction” through them while trying to subdue the Hulk (Avengers: Age of Ultron). Stark is personally compensating affected landowners for damages caused by himself and his super friend. Furthermore, it is revealed in Spider-Man: Homecoming that Stark joined forces with the Department of Damage Control to clean up the mess made during the Battle of New York (Watts). Stark is far from unconcerned with the effects he and the Avengers have on the public. Against what the Ross Model assumes, the Avengers are working to help alleviate the damages they cause while trying to protect the public from even greater tragedies.
When the foundation on which the Sokovia Accords are built turns out to be a shaky one at best, it is no surprise that the Sokovia Accords failed in their purpose. Under the system implemented by the Accords, heroes were split up and forced into hiding, while Thanos, the greatest threat of all, succeeded in his twisted mission (Avengers: Infinity War). Ultimately, it was the Sokovia Accords that doomed half of all life.
As we transition out of the silver screen and into everyday life, we find a similar story of catastrophe, heroism, and government/public response. During the Panic of 1907, the Knickerbocker Trust Company faced bank runs after their president, Charles T. Barney, was accused of doing business with Charles W. Morse who, in association with F. Augustus Heinze, failed to corner a market and defaulted on their bank loans, unintentionally sparking the Panic. The frightened mobs immediately ran on Knickerbocker. Floundering, Knickerbocker sought help from the New York Clearing House, and then from J. Pierpont Morgan when their initial pleas were denied (Moen). Morgan, upon examining their books, likewise determined that he would not intervene and Knickerbocker went under, dooming other trusts and banks to even more panicked mobs. When asked for aid by the Trust Company of New York, another victim of the runs, Morgan examined their books, declared them illiquid, and chose to intervene. Crowds cheered and “The New York Stock Exchange remained open largely because of the legendary actions of Morgan” (Moen). Without Morgan, the United States may have become subject to the dreary horrors of the Great Depression 20 years early. Naturally, some felt threatened by one man having so much power over the economy, so how did the Government respond? They instituted the Federal Reserve System to fight the economic battles that Morgan may not be around for. Instead of limiting a hero, they mimicked him. Under this system, they established regional Federal Reserve Banks across the nation to assist failing banks and to cover their liabilities, a Board of Governors to oversee the Federal Reserve Banks and “[report] to and [be] directly accountable to Congress” (“How is the Federal Reserve structured?”), and the Federal Open Market Committee to bring together Board members and presidents of the regional Banks to assess the general state of the economy. With the initiation and effective execution of the Federal Reserve System, bank runs have become a thing of the past. We have a real world example of a government plan implemented in light of heroics that is succeeding in its original purpose of protecting the public from the dangers of widespread economic failure.
By comparing the Sokovia Accords and the Federal Reserve System, it’s clear that one does not measure up to the other. But by adapting the Fed into a policy for regulating enhanced individuals, we can greatly improve the Accords.
I propose the Sokovia Reserves as an improved revision of the Sokovia Accords. Under this new system, there will be a Board of Heroes which will serve as the governing body for supers in the United States. They will oversee all enhanced activities across the nation and will report to and be accountable to Congress, just like the Fed’s Board of Governors. There will be Regional Reserve Divisions, teams of heroes with jurisdiction over major areas in the US who will be accountable for enhanced activities in their respective regions. Periodically, all regional team leaders will meet with the Board of Heroes in a National Captains Committee to discuss issues, concerns, and threats to the public as well as take a look at potential policies that may affect general super-dom. By taking the goals and vision of the Sokovia Accords and adapting them to a successful structure, we have a new system that would greatly improve the original.
With the Sokovia Reserve system, there is even room for expansion. The original Accords were ratified by 117 countries (Captain America: Civil War) and it is safe to expect that each would vastly appreciate an even better policy. Boards of Heroes and Regional Reserve Divisions could be set up in any country with a population of supers, with a panel on the UN to oversee the Boards of each nation. With the Sokovia Reserve system, we have a realistic way to handle catastrophic threats to the general public, and a greater capability to guarantee safety for all.
Works Cited
“How Is the Federal Reserve System Structured?” Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 17 Aug. 2016, federalreserve.gov/faqs/about_12593.htm##targetText=There are three key entities,the 12 Federal Reserve Banks.&targetText=The FOMC is composed of,the 12 Reserve Bank presidents
Moen, Jon R., and Ellis W. Tallman. “The Panic of 1907.” Federal Reserve History, https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/panic_of_1907.
Russo, Joe and Anthony Russo, directors. Captain America: Civil War. Marvel Studios, 2016.
Russo, Joe and Anthony Russo, directors. Avengers: Infinity War. Marvel Studios, 2018.
Watts, Jon, director. Spider-Man: Homecoming. Marvel Studios, 2017.
Whedon, Joss, director. The Avengers. Marvel Studios, 2012.
Whedon, Joss, director. Avengers: Age of Ultron. Marvel Studios, 2015.
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