I never got “communist” from Star Trek. There seemed to be very limited top-down control outside the military, trade seemed to be an important backdrop, and automation largely replaced the necessity for people to fill any particular role. So what it seems like is a low-touch society where automation serves the needs of the common people, but operates within a capitalist framework. If it was communist, I think we’d see a lot more conflict between the various races, but they’re largely happy with the equilibrium they’ve struck (outside various periods of conflict).
I think if we were to explore the Star Trek universe, we’d see a lot of corporations and whatnot controlling significant portions of the interstellar economy. But since we largely follow military and diplomatic groups, we just don’t see what the rest of society looks like.
lurch@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Samsy@lemmy.ml 3 weeks ago
Interesting, would fit, too.
I thought they are Russians because of the 1992 movie: the undiscovered country. Released close after the end of the cold war…
darthelmet@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I feel like at different times either the Klingon or Romulans kind of stand in for the Soviets. Certainly TNG onward the Klingons shift in their representation and the Romulans stay as that analogue to a secretive geopolitical rival that they maintain an uneasy peace with.