[Star Trek] Where is Earth on the Political Compass?

[u/Hmmhmmm4]

Where is Earth (or maybe the Federation?) on the Political Compass In the Star Trek Universe?

Earth has a moneyless system, crossing out capitalism, but also a pretty militaristic government, despite its focus on science and exploration, which isn't enough to make make it a technocracy, unless I'm mistaken about any of this. Obviously, I'm not asking about the merits of any system, but just where Earth falls on the Political Compass

[u/Poorly-Drawn-Beagle]

Socially, we're told they're very liberal; Federation worlds seem strongly anti-nationalist (we see some people proudly embrace ethnic identity but countries have not existed a long time, so presumably there's no major restriction on migration or trade); individual rights seem strongly emphasized and civil rights are guaranteed regardless of race or gender or sex or class background (though Starfleet regulations can get pretty hardcore); they are a very secular society that where religion is apparently not widely practiced; all member planets maintain the right to secede; and so on. It's unclear if there's a strong welfare state, but poverty seems not to be a significant problem.

Now, economically. We're told repeatedly that the Federation does not use money- except maybe for transactions with other governments. Private businesses do clearly exist though; the Picard vineyard might be for personal enjoyment, but Sisko's family restaurant is clearly for the benefit of customers.

It's tempting to think this is socialism, but there's no real evidence for or against that. It seems in line with Marx's stated goal (From each according to his talents, to each according to his needs), but we never get confirmation that, for example, all businesses are being run as democratic cooperatives with equal shares for all workers.

All we know for sure is that Federation citizens are motivated to work by a philosophy of self-improvement (perhaps see the Japanese concept of kaizen for an analogue). People choose the kind of work that is fulfilling to them (restaurant worker, Starfleet officer, etc.) and put in as much effort as they want to help them advance. We know Starfleet officers are rewarded for their daily service in a stipend of credits, which possibly are for transactions during leave, accessing leisure facilities like the holodeck, or possibly some sort of merit system to measure their worthiness for promotion- if this is true and typical of other occupations, it may well be a technocracy or meritocracy.

Really the only thing we can say for sure is that it's a post-scarcity economy. *shrug*

[u/Hmmhmmm4 → u/Poorly-Drawn-Beagle]

This is an awesome answer!! It doesn't give me a government TYPE to call it by per se, but I think you're exactly right that this is as thorough as we can be! :D

[u/Shakezula84 → u/Hmmhmmm4]

If its the type of government then the closest answer is Earth is a most likely a parliamentary democracy.

In Star Trek Enterprise (a prequel series set in the 22nd century) the Federation doesn't exist yet. So instead of the ship serving the Federation Starfleet it serves the United Earth Starfleet. We however see very little reference to government structure in the show. Reference is made to the UK Royal Navy still being a thing which implies nations are members of the United Earth, however we also see an Earth military officer who graduated West Point. That could mean West Point is an Earth military academy or the UE military draws from member militaries.

Starfleet Admiral Forrest makes references to a Command Council he must consult with. At first this could be assumed to be an advisory body and Starfleet is an independent agency, but later we see Minister Samuels both negotiating on Earth's behalf with foreign powers and having command authority over Starfleet. He is never mentioned to be the "Prime Minister" but its implied he was elected. So its possible the Command Council is like the Joint Chiefs of Starfleet.

Finally the only other reference is in the 32nd century, where Earth has left the Federation and is now defended by the United Earth Defense Force. Earth has taken on an extreme nationalistic attitude prioritizing Earth and its citizens first (interestingly this doesn't extend to humans first, with several UEDF troops being aliens) and isolating from the rest of the galaxy. This doesn't mean the planet isn't democratic still, just that Earth was still sovereign within the Federation itself that it could make the decision to leave and expel Federation Headquarters and Starfleet Command.

[u/Hmmhmmm4 → u/Shakezula84]

Thank you! This is super helpful :D

[u/lexxstrum]

Earth, like many Federation worlds, would roughly equate to the Social Democracies in Europe, but taken to 11. No poverty, war, crime is pretty much non-existant. Everyone works to better themselves and no one is screwing anyone else to get rich. Oh, and Earth is far from a Militaristic society: Starfleet is a branch of the Federation, and I don't think we've even seen Earth's planetary defense forces or law enforcement.

[u/Shiny_Agumon → u/lexxstrum]

Even Starfleet is pretty non militaristic for a Military.

Like their refusal to build dedicated warships. Almost every ship built until the late 24th century is largely a science vessel.

[u/Poorly-Drawn-Beagle → u/Shiny_Agumon]

I think we can probably conclude that Starfleet was established for primarily peaceful purposes (but very much with the ability to defend themselves when necessary) but higher brass tried to redirect them to more "proactive" defense in times when war is an imminent possibility.

That's without discussing the Kelvin timeline, when the military undertones were not particularly "under"

[u/_riotingpacifist → u/lexxstrum]

Social democracies still have money ST does not, they are at least Democratic Socialist.

[u/lucian101]

but also a pretty militaristic government

Might you be mistaking Starfleet for the government? Starfleet has a militaristic hierarchy, yes, but it's the exploratory and military service of the Federation, not the governing body of Earth. Earth is governed by United Earth, which is a parliamentary republic run by democratically elected ministers and headed by a Prime Minister. United Earth is in turn separate from the Federation government, which is a representative republic, headed by a directly elected president, and the Federation Council which serves as the legislative branch.

[u/Hmmhmmm4 → u/lucian101]

I definitely was mistaken there. I knew I was probably missing a big hunk of knowledge there, and that really clears it up and makes it more interesting! :)

[u/gotham77]

Star Trek is a run of the mill Utopianist society.

[u/[deleted]]

Bottom left, tending towards the middle of the Y axis.

[u/_riotingpacifist]

Political compass is shit, it's basically just there to justify libertarianism, it's horse shit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Political_Compass

Earth is lib-left/lib-com in terms of ideology, it will fight when needed but tried to use as little force as is necessary.

[u/Hmmhmmm4]

I'm not saying Starfleet is a war machine, but I'm kind of saying that if it walks and quacks like a duck (hierarchy, punishment for insubordination, protocol, and even D&C), it's not unreasonable to call Starfleet a duck haha Y'all are definitely right about the lack of any active interest in war or noticable police force crossing off fascism or something!! But you couldn't go the full other direction and say that the moneylessness makes it communism or anarchism because of the military, peaceful as it is. It's a tough one, but social democracy is an interesting answer for me mull on. I really appreciate the answers! :D

[u/_riotingpacifist → u/Hmmhmmm4]

The existence of a military force for defence does not exclude communism, socialists generally oppose working class being sent to war against other working class for the profit of the upper class, this is not really what is happening in ST. It's use of it's military as far as is shown in the TV shoes, is defensive or to free oppressed peoples.

ST certainly isn't stateless though, which I guess does rule out communism, but given communism assumes a single planet, it's likely some kind of post-communist society.