Star Trek: The Next Generation deviates pretty interestingly from it’s predecessors. Where earlier Star Trek series focused on a Socialism-like environment, which seemed to be working well surprisingly. However, The Next Generation seems to cast a rather unpleasant light on Socialism in the Borg.
The Borg are a unified hive mind that show no individuality or emotion at all. This seems like the show is going greatly against governments that encourage that, such as Communism or Socialism, however the star fleet exists in a fairly Socialism-like universe. With the existence of replicators, there is no need for anything, which means no real economic classes. There is a social structure, but it exists purely to keep things working, not to enforce any kind of power or economic imbalance. This contrast is interesting by itself, but the fact that it shows up in an American science fiction show just enhances it for me.
Star Trek has had an interesting history with having undertones of political opinions in multiple episodes, and The Next Generation is a continuation of that trend. The Borg represent a dark side of something usually supported by Star Trek
Oh, you're making me think! About this specifically, I mean. Socialism in the totalitarian sense has never been much of a thing in the US. Sure, there was a more active socialist party in the late 1800s, but pretty quickly, it became clear that American socialism wouldn't be state-directed communism. We're too proud of our emphasis on individuality. This is some of the difference between the Federation and the Borg, right? The brand of socialism we get among the Federation allows for greater individuality, greater happiness and actualization of the individual. ...In this theoretical utopia, of course.
ReplyDeleteYou've made a fair point, socialism definitely has a place in this episode. The Borg are lame and even though everyone is an equal, they're equally evil. Also, did you know you could comment emojis 🍰🍰🍰
ReplyDeleteI think that this episode might be a roast of Communism, which was seen as terrible and without individuality by Americans during the Cold War, but I definitely don't think it's a commentary on socialism. The Borg are way more intense than Bernie Sanders.
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