Hi there, I’m not trying to start a political argument or anything, I’m just curious what people here think about this often repeated claim that the Federation is a socialist or even communist utopia? I know Strange New Worlds did say in dialogue it is socialist but I was wondering if people here think that’s accurate? I’m not a communist or a marxist or anything like that, but I’ve had people who identify as such tell me the Federation basically is communist. So anyway, what’s your thoughts?

  • Max-P@lemmy.max-p.meEnglish
    2·
    4 months ago

    The federation tends to let member planets be independent, the federation doesn’t come in and be like “we own your planet and we provide for you in return we take everything”, so it’s definitely leaning socialist.

    The main difference is who owns the means of production. In communism, the government does. In socialism, the people do.

    Both aim to provide for the population at large and not just benefit to a few rich elites that own everything, but socialism is a bit more robust against tyrannical governments.

    • LengAwaits@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      4 months ago

      The main difference is who owns the means of production. In communism, the government does. In socialism, the people do.

      What would we call a hybrid system in which the government is made up of the people and owns the means of production? Direct Democratic Communism?

      Edit to add:

      A federation (also called a federal state) is an entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governing status of the component states, as well as the division of power between them and the central government, is constitutionally entrenched and may not be altered by a unilateral decision, neither by the component states nor the federal political body without constitutional amendment.

      Seems relevant considering “The Federation”.

    • MrSaturn@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
      2·
      4 months ago

      Yeah I’m not a communist primarily because I’m against dictatorship and human rights abuse but socialism sounds more interesting