The political elements of Star Trek show that the series had more insight than what is apparent. The show started in the 1960s when the Cold War was at its height. Many authorities argue that Star Trek is an exploration based on self-interest, colonialism, collectivism and control . However, George Gonzalez takes a different approach in The Politics of Star Trek where he undertakes a critical review of the story within the context of the actual implications of the actions of the characters. This paper will review the first two chapters of the book in order to present the critical elements and aspects of the work.
Chapter 1: Star Trek (the Original Series) An Anti Cold-War Narrative
According to some critics, Star Trek is about saving the universe from terrorists, clouds and other negative things, but in reality, the series is about control, claim of resources, exploitation, and indoctrination . In this wise, Star Trek is very similar to fascism and the Soviet-American Cold War model. This is because the Federation controls everything and they seek their best interest. The communication system is controlled by the Federation and the only news control is the FNN and the FNS. This is meant to be something relating to dominance and domination. The system is unilateral and the authorities of The Federation eliminate stubborn captains and teams. There is no money and a utopian situation is erroneously presented to the viewer. This is something that shows that the system is not as good as it is.
However, the first Chapter of George Gonzalez’s work points out that it is a rather simplistic view to see Star Trek as a metaphor for the Cold War. This is because in his view, the idea of the film is to present a bigger and broader view than just to get people to see the Federation as a part of a bigger ideological war in the universe. Thus, George Gonzalez begins by identifying that there are two metaphors that have evolved to fuel this erroneous view of the universe of Star Trek.
First of all, those who argue that Star Trek is about the Cold War cite the example of the Klingons versus the Federation who are opposing superpowers. However, this is so wrong because the Klingons were nowhere close to being a superpower. They were a power alright, but they were not the focus of the entire series. The focus was on showing some positive things about the Federation and how a united world could be beneficial to the human race. This is opposed to setting up a major superpower as an opponent to the Federation.
The second misconception is in the assumption that the Federation is a political tradition similar to the United States. This is false. That is because the Federation, although was a major entity gave freedom to its members. Secondly, the Federation was not primarily living to prove that they were doing things in a superior manner as opposed to other related superpowers. As such, the Federation was a major entity that was seeking the betterment of its units. And units within the Federation were acting in unison.
Thus, it can be said that by refuting these two claims, Star Trek is presented as a form of united global governance. This is a system whereby people within a given group come together to seek their betterment. This is opposed to a good-versus-evil kind of situation where a major empire was to stand and fight another empire with an evil ideology. Rather, it shows a system of unity and oneness. This is marked by the fact that the Federation is something that works for the betterment of all in the universe. And the units of the Federation are to work together for the best interest of their own units as opposed to serving the Federation.
Therefore, Gonzalez states clearly in Chapter 1 of his work that Star Trek is not a metaphor of the Cold War, but a thorough critique of the Cold War. This means Star Trek provides a deeper inquest into the whole idea of the Cold War and focuses on a teleological view of what an ideal world would be rather than what is supposed to be ideal or superior. It looks at an end, which is bigger than what means used to achieve that end or goal.
On the other hand, Gonzalez identifies that Star Trek has a bias for modernism. This is because modernism is about a system whereby things are done for the best interests and for the wider good of society rather than what people think or feel is ideal. In this sense, Gonzalez states that Star Trek is against totalitarianism and this makes Star Trek something that is against Nazism and Fascism rather than something set against Communism directly.
Gonzalez goes further to state that Star Trek is more of a political art, not a propaganda tool. This is because it shows what politics should be about and how it could thrive for the attainment of the best interests of society. To this end, Star Wars is a political art that shows how modern communication and modern interaction can occur. This is idealistic in outlook, however, there is a presentation of how unity and collaboration could come together for the attainment of the best results.
The first evidence presented against Star Trek as an American Cold War propaganda is that it is based on a united world seeking a better life – more like America. Thus, it is more like an internal introspection into how the United States is ran and how it makes its people happy by allowing them to pursue their best interests in life and also remain happy and successful. As such, it is more of an internal presentation of an ideal situation where the United States and its ideals could yield credible results and make everyone in the world happy and successful.
Secondly, there is no Soviet Union or USA in Star Trek. By this, there is no identification of major superpowers who make laws and seek to go through conflict in order to attain their own ideological goals and ends. Rather, there is a broad Federation that works for the best of the society. However, the Federation is a united force seeking good for its people. This means the comparison of Star Trek to the Cold War is extremely wrong. Thus, it is more of a reflection of US Politics in the United States rather than what the US does by proving it is right and others are wrong.
The series also casts nationalism in a negative light. The Federation is an institution composed of different groups throughout the interstellar space. These parties are just working and seeking the best interests of their citizens. In Star Trek, people identify themselves by their ethnicity, not their nationality. Thus, there are the Klingons, Romulans amongst others.
There are also elements of equality with African-Americans playing lead roles back in the 1960s where racism was rife. Thus, claims of White nationalism and racism is not valid. This means the foundation for ideological challenges are severely limited through the fact that equality is seen as a major part of the Federation process.
The emotions and views of the Founding Fathers of the federation were seen as humanitarian and it is based on a dream of equality and unity. Thus, conflicts and other tensions related to the Cold War is not rife in the series.
America’s position in the Cold War was Anti-Communism and Containment, this is not seen in Star Trek. Thus, there are no continuous arguments against Communism or a specific opponents. This was a hallmark of the Cold War and this was absent from Star Trek in all forms. This made it difficult and almost impossible to justify the elements of criticism presented in the work. In place of ideological battles, there are events where individuals are held accountable for their actions. Ideologies are not targeted and the “silly argument of dividing resources” which was a part of the Cold War was avoided.
The Cold War was about two great nations competing for power, resources and territories. Star Trek has no such thing; it is about unity and the pursuit of the best interest of the communities in the universal order. On the other hand, Star Trek was based on direct actions that were followed up. Unless there were legitimate grievances against groups like the Klingons, there was no conflict.
Star Trek is based on American values. In an episode in 1968, the crew got to a planet similar to earth and the people had been destroyed by a major war but worshiped the American constitution. The Star Trek crew had to remind them of the American values.
Tensions with the Klingons and other major groups were not inspired by ideology. The Klingons in their tensions are often informed by wrong information which gets them to become inimical and fight for things they believed in. This is in contrast to the Cold War, where people are conditioned to think in certain ways. There are most episodes where the people come together at the end and resolve their differences and work together.
The other great empire – Romulans invaded the Federation’s space in a 1966 episode in the balance of terror. However, after sustaining a counter attack from the Federation, they pulled back. The captains of both the Federation and Romulans met (which does not happen in the Cold War). And they settle their differences and accept the fact that they share some commonalities. The Klingons are not like the Soviets. They do not have an ideology or do they look in any way like the Soviets.
Star Trek gives insights into American foreign policy. It shows how nations could be empowered and made a part of a whole that seeks the advancement of humanity ahead of ideology. Star Trek is a caution against protectionism and excessive nationalism. It supports a global governance structure and enhances the best interests of all stakeholders
In conclusion, Star Trek promotes a bias for modernism and the use of new mechanisms to seek a federation of the nations around the world. It argues for a Federation and this is opposed to empire formation which is based on strife. Star Trek promotes neoliberalism and modernism.
Chapter 2: Star Trek, Utopia and Pragmatism
The first chapter of Gonzalez’s work established clearly that Star Trek was a philosophical art. Instead of showing a dichotomy between art and the Cold War, it told an independent political story. Hence, there was the need to expand on it and show exactly what Star Trek stood for and how it created an impact on people. This includes the identification of the ideal framework within which society and the international community could be ran and viewed.
In presenting answers to the fundamental questions of the chapter, there is an inquest into Star Trek. It is identified that Star Trek is a major series that was successful with loyal and devoted followers. This shows that there was something that connected the American viewer with the film and how it operates. As such, he asserts that Star Trek is consistent with the American philosophical values and lays the foundation for an ideal world. Thus, it can be said that Americans watched it because they saw a lot of positivity within it and could appreciate the way it projected ideals of the United States on a futuristic global order.
Thus, evidence is provided in Chapter 2 to show that Star Trek gives insight into the political theory of the United States and expounds on American political reasoning. To Gonzalez, this is done in two fundamental paradigms – Utopian Marxism and Pragmatism. This is because Star Trek indicated some kind of progressive social change in the international order.
Secondly, the progressive social change was to be backed by pragmatic perspectives. The pragmatism presented by Star Trek is one based on Capitalism. However, it is guaranteed through a form of social contract between the entities that made up the Federation. This makes Star Trek something that is free of conflict, but rather progressive and seeking the betterment of people in society rather than the interests of individuals.
However, there is a difference between science fiction and utopian fiction. Star Trek s to combine both elements. This is because Star Trek shows science in the normal sense. This is about how people do their things and how they analyze things in a super advanced technologically oriented society. Hence, there is a view of how things could be done and how things are done in such ideal situations. Science is used to solve most problems and at the same time, there is an opportunity to demonstrate how such an ideal universe or world could become and how it could exist. There is an identification of the way science combines with an ideal to show a hypothetical view of an ideal society. This is something that provides a unique view of the world and makes Star Trek an ideal way of showing a Utopia.
Thus, there is an identification of an ideal world. A world where people are able to do what they wish through the utilization of technology. Thus, Star Trek is a revolutionary reconfiguration of the future and the change of the world in totality. This is something that is brought to the fore through the flexibility of science fiction and utopianism which shows how ideal things could be.
The idealism of Star Trek is found in the way people live in a context with little or no conflict as we have it in the normal world we live in today. Chapter 2 indicates that Star Trek views a situation where the world becomes free of gender and ethnic biases, free of want and also becomes classless and prosperous. Thus, people live in a situation whereby they have everything they need and can aspire to be what they can become. This is something that is not common in today’s world as the world is full of many negativity that makes it impossible for the attainment of this ideal situation. As such, the situation of the Star Trek era is one where things were only fictional and people could dream of them as a possibility but not a reality.
Star Trek shows an ideal political, social and economic system that the world can thrive upon. This shows an international order where parties and states are united and are willing to work with each other for the attainment of the greatest and most pressing needs that existed in the society. This is something similar to the form of liberalism that was proposed by both Wilson Woodrow and Leon Trotsky in the early 20th Century. It is a system where people could use a liberal process to build an ideal society without confrontation and adversaries as we have in today’s world.
Star Trek is based on Karl Marx's view of political justice, freedom and stability in international affairs. Marx put forward this claim by arguing that a series of revolutions must go on to ensure a peaceful global society. Thus, Star Trek was an ideal stage where all the revolutions and conflicts had been completed. In its place, there was a procedure whereby people could have a happy and enjoyable life in all situations and circumstances.
Star Trek is based on technological optimism. This shows that technology is the main vehicle too through which the ideals of Marx could be attained in the world. Thus, it shows a combination of the Marxist ideologies and other American ideologies of ideal situations to provide a framework for the evaluation of the different systems and technologies for the creation of a modern world.
Then there is the idea of the Intersubjective agreement which is in itself a political theory. The Intersubjective agreement is a process through which there is a kind of social contract which meets these ends of neoliberalism. This creates a system whereby people can work for their own betterment through a free international agreement. The societies in Star Trek used that agreement to create liberal humanism, develop and deploy technology and use it for the creation of an ideal, happy and prosperous society.
This is a procedure whereby nations and the entities within the global order could do things in ways that promote humanity as opposed to the betterment of just the leaders. Thus, humanism and the best interest of the human race is the basis and fundamental aspect of the Star Trek community. The use of force and other forms of violence is eliminated. Rather, science and novel methods and approaches are utilized in order to make the communities and areas covered in the film to appear to be in the best way and shape and form.
The use of alternative methods including the use of non-violent punishment helps to create healthier societies and communities. This involves the situation whereby new and novel approaches are used to help society to progressively improve and enhance its image and the prosperity of the people. The use of violence is prohibited and new techniques that are previously unknown like Mirror treatment where people are punished in an agony chamber where they look at themselves in a mirror is encouraged. Here, torture is replaced with agony. And this is about a person facing himself for what he did or did not do. Thus, when a person is placed in a room where he has mirrors all over and sees himself, he blames himself, feel the guilt and sense what other people have gone through. This helps an individual to become better and much more enhanced rather than using adversarial methods which are almost always destructive and lead to unhealthy and unnecessary competition which must be avoided in all situations and at all costs.
Thus, Star Trek creates an image of an ideal society and how such a society can be formulated and maintained. There is the creation of a procedure whereby people are able to do the best things for themselves and achieve their best interests and goals. Neoliberalism is the ultimate end of the arguments and views of the Star Trek series. This is a unique and progressive society where there is a focus on the betterment of people through an agreement which promotes non-violence and enhances the best interests and goals of the wider society rather than meeting the egos of a few powerful people.
Humanity in Star Trek bases itself on the philosophy of self-enhancement and liberal humanism. This is something that goes back to Marxist and Trotskyist thought. This helps people to struggle and strife for a better society where things are of an enhanced status rather than what exists.
Pragmatism is where the intersubjective agreement is used as basis for justice and allow people to do what is best for them. Actions are to be within the framework of the intersubjective agreement as opposed to the use of force and other techniques of strife.
Technology enhances the values of the Federation. It allows people to pursue their best interests and needs in the context of the Intersubjective agreement. The Intersubjective agreement enables people to seek their betterment. Thus, with intersubjective agreement and the quest for the best interest of the subjects, the quality of life is destined to increase and things are bound to be better.
In conclusion, Star Trek is a film that shows an ideal society through a liberal approach. This is to be done through an agreement nations are to live by and from there, the federation will work for the betterment of people as opposed to the leaders.
Works Cited
Decker, Kevin and Jason Eberl. Star Trek and Philosophy . Peru, IL: Open Court Publishing Group, 2008. Print.
Dyson, Stephen Benedict. Otherworldly Politics: The International Relations of Star Trek. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University , 2015. Print.
Gonzalez, George. The Politics of Star Trek: Jusice, War and the Future . New York: Springer, 2015. Print.
Kapell, Matthew Wilhelm. Star Trek as Myth: Essays on Symbol and Archetype at the Final Frontier . New York: McFarland, 2015. Print.
The Film Theorists. Film Theory: Why The Star Trek Federation is Fascist. 10 September 2016. Web. 25 January 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4KBPaS-1PU>.
Ward, Dayton. Star Trek: The Original Series: From History's Shadow . New York: Simon and Schuster, 2014. Print.
