What form of government does the Star Trek universe follow?

outside looking in

outside looking in

<b>Registered Member</b>
That's always been a nagging question in the back of my mind. There is no money, and people simply work for the betterment of themselves and of mankind. Apparently, everyone has found a job that they are happy to be doing. I suppose either there are no lazy people, or they are tolerated.

Anyway, I know there aren't many details about their governmental organization (they do have a president of some sort at least... and I've never read any books about Star Trek - maybe this is discussed somewhere), but ignoring the obvious "utopia" factor, what form of government/economic model does that world most closely resemble?

In many aspects, it seems to be communist. Yet apparently everyone is free, which is seemingly a contradiction. Also, democratic process seems to have a place as it shows up from time to time.

BTW, I'm obviously talking about only the Fedaration. The other races/empires seem easier to classify.

:confbang:
 
Communistic, and yet, independence, free will, thought and creativity are highly valued. Hmmm....

The Borg, the ultimate attainment in communism, are their most ardent and feared enemy. Hmmm....
 
Technological magic has solved all their problems. Manna falls from the heavens into their laps...

The series is politically agnostic. The writers don't take sides, and I suppose that's one reason the series has appealed to a wide audience. People are able to read into it whatever they like. A capitalist has to assume that such great technological advancements could only be achieved in a capitalist society. A communist/socialist has to assume that the absence of poverty could only be achieved in a socialist society. I recall Picard actually derisively remarking on how people in the old days used to fight over what economic system was best, as if that were like fighting over whether vanilla is better than chocolate. (You can imagine how I snorted at such a silly comment.)

In general, the flavor of the show was more multiculturalist and socialist at the beginning of the series, and it became more individualistic and explicitly pro-freedom towards the end. My favorite episode of all time was "I, Borg." It justified the series in my eyes.
 
Hey, just answer my question or shut up already! :D

At least I'm not alone in finding it difficult to classify the social/economic organization of the Federation. I'm sure the creaters/writers/producers made it that way on purpose, but it's still an interesting question.

What form of government could possibly have the attributes seen as pieced together from the many series and movies? Is it like an Escher drawing... something that looks nice on paper but isn't logically possible, is it some well implemented form of an existing theory, or is it something new that, while improbable, is at least logically consistent (somewhat like communism)?
 
They're obviously high on some super drug. Probably quasimatter residue from replicating their food. Won't they all be amazed when they awaken to find its all been a dream.....:D
 
I think it most likely that there is no one cohesive system that can be gleaned from the series, because there were multiple writers. Certainly, the characters would be "out of character" in certain episodes.
 
Janimal said:
Certainly, the characters would be "out of character" in certain episodes.
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That was one of the most frustrating things about the series. In one episode Picard would be espousing some hands-off policy towards the beliefs of another culture, and then in another episode he would act to assert some universal principle of morality against multi-culturalist claptrap.

While I'm on the subject of inconsistencies of character, what the hell was Picard doing drinking tea and reading Shakespeare and other classics of English literature? He was a Frenchman! He should've been drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes and quoting Sartre. Of course, as a Frenchman, he would've made a lousy Starship captain... maybe he was kidnapped when he was young and raised by Brits? That could explain his schizophrenia...
 
Didn't you see episode 21? They explained that France was a suburb of Birmingham. :headbang:
 
Gonz said:
Didn't you see episode 21? They explained that France was a suburb of Birmingham.
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Ah! The cultural genocide of France at last! Hurrah!

I much prefer British arrogance over French snobbery... it's more wholesome. ;)
 
You'd think that in such a Utopia where all your needs are met people would be happy, so how come there a still so many greedy, grasping assholes about?
I much prefer British arrogance over French snobbery... it's more wholesome.
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So does that mean I can be as arrogant as I like to you colonialists... :D :p
 
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