The Fascist Ideology of Star Trek
POSTED BY: citizen
UPDATED: Sunday, June 7, 2026 16:12
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Just found this article while looking for something else.
The Fascist Ideology of Star Trek, and the Firefly the Anti Trek:
http://friesian.com/trek.htm
Obviously written by a die hard free market capitalist, but interesting nonetheless.
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
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What a crock of bull.
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You do that, and you'd best make peace with your dear and fluffy lord.
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Why do you say that?
I mean I think the same thing, but why do you?
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I think the author made some strong points. I think Star Trek, like a lot of science fiction, takes its notion of utopian society from 19th century egalitarian ideals espoused by the intelligentsia. Of course the Star Trek universe is assumed to have invented technology that allows it to reorganize useless matter into anything else, via the “replicators,” thereby essentially removing the fundamental principle of Scarcity from the economic equation. I think it says something about the Leftist ideals of Marxism and other egalitarian economics that the only way such economics could be seen as feasible is with the assumption of infinite resources.
Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.
Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.
-- Cicero
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You have only to think about what Star Trek technologies would have on ordinary life back on Earth to realise that present day economics just dont work in the Trek `Verse.
Everything in the here and now boils down to supply and demand but, what with Replicators/Fabricators, Holodecks and Transporters, everything you could possibly concieve of needing would be instantly available.
The only possible basis for trade would be in the supply of energy to power the machines and in information. With a luxury trade in `uniques`, Art and Craft work and suchlike.
This guy comes up with the idea that Trek is Fascist, not so long ago somebody else came up with the idea that it was Communist. Truth is, its both and neither.
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Funny how he forgets to mention that the Blue Hands were part of an unscrupulous corporate entity.
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"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being" - Carl Jung
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Quote:Well the replicators weren't introduced until TNG, they weren't a part of TOS or the early films.
Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
Of course the Star Trek universe is assumed to have invented technology that allows it to reorganize useless matter into anything else, via the “replicators,” thereby essentially removing the fundamental principle of Scarcity from the economic equation.
I feel the author shoots himself in the foot a bit with his assertions that imply only free market capitalism can be considered non-fascist, or the only workable system.
Anyway, there have been some parallels drawn between the Alliance and the Federation. Who’s to say what life is really like in the Alliance, and that people on the wrong side of the Federation, the Marquis for instance, don't see the Federation much like Mal sees the Alliance.
We all see the Alliance as some oppressive fascistic entity, but where does this idea come from? A man who hates the Alliance, one has to ask what someone like Osama Bin Laden, a man who hates the west, would have to say about our societies.
We see the Alliance only through the eyes of criminals, how would we see our own free societies if it was only through the eyes of criminals?
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No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
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Quote:How is that funny? I’m not sure it’s relevant. In some form the Blue Sun Corporation appears to be connected to the Alliance, which suggests that the Alliance is a fascist entity. But even if it’s not associated with the Alliance, but an independent enterprise, it still wouldn’t seem to be relevant to the author’s point.
Originally posted by EmpXenu:
Funny how he forgets to mention that the Blue Hands were part of an unscrupulous corporate entity.
Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.
Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.
-- Cicero
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Quote:That doesn't mean the Alliance is fascist. There's plenty of American corporations with close ties to the US government, but I'd hate to think the flame-mail I'd recieve if I suggested the US was fascist. Likewise 19th century UK wasn't fascist because of the east india company.
Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
How is that funny? I’m not sure it’s relevant. In some form the Blue Sun Corporation appears to be connected to the Alliance, which suggests that the Alliance is a fascist entity. But even if it’s not associated with the Alliance, but an independent enterprise, it still wouldn’t seem to be relevant to the author’s point.
It calls in to question the authors implication that free market capitalism is the best and only workable social system.
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The fascist part of both Firefly and Star Trek is mostly cultural in that they state quite unequivocably that the US will survive and be the dominant force.
For all Firefly's "It's the US and China who are left" pretensions, we pretty much only see Americans. Frankly for someone as globally minded as Joss, this was a real let down. Though Star Trek was much much worse.
Witness the witless title sequence for Enterprise (I'm stealing this from someone else): hey, it's the second man in space! And there's Lindbergh, utter irrelevance to flight history that he is. And pay attention to Robert Goddard; ignore that nasty German von Braun
Blurgh.
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