The second part of the wonderful article about the complex politics of the Star Trek universe. In this part: delving into the idea of "good and evil" in the Star Trek universe and an overview of the Klingon and Creed races. The series of articles is based on a lecture given at the "Worlds 2005" conference.
Moshe Goldman, ISF
The treatment of races in "Star Trek" as "good" or "bad" - the big game
The preoccupation of the "Star Trek" series with issues of international politics was, as mentioned, significant since the days of the original series. However, during the days of the original series and the first seasons of "The Next Generation", the focus was mainly on individual episodes, and not part of a continuous and developing storyline. Therefore, a long time passed until the political map of this world took shape into a clear and complex picture, like the one that could already be recognized in the second half of "The Next Generation". (For the sake of illustration, the Cardassim race, which in retrospect in this article is given enormous significance for preservation as well as for the possible undermining of political stability in the "Star Trek" universe, appeared for the first time only in the fourth season of "The Next Generation").
However, already in the days of the original series, a recurring motif of ambivalent reference to the "bad people" can be identified. Time and again the series encourages the viewers to consider their preconceived notions about those who are perceived as "enemies" or "friends". The question that arises is, are our enemies "bad" because they have an ingrained and essential flaw, or is it the tragic reality of politics that has set them against us? The answers are usually not decisive one way or the other, and we will discover before us a world where the shades of gray prevail over the shades of black and white - contrary to what one might expect at first glance.
Towards the "Deep Space Nine" period, this motif became much more common and systematic. From its first season until its last episodes, the series deceives our perceptions about the identity of the "good" and "bad". Each of the old races in the "Star Trek" universe, during "Deep Space Nine" went from the status of ally to the status of enemy, and back again, at least once. The place of self-criticism towards the federation was not neglected either. Furthermore, the series builds the viewers' identification with each of the races, and provides them with many reasons to hate them to the same extent. The result is a world where it is not always clear what the right action is, who is a friend and who is an enemy, and what is the line between self-preservation and the absence of morality. About as it is in the real world.
The Klingons
The change in relation to the Klingons is perhaps the most significant in the history of the "Star Trek" universe. Beginning with their first appearance in the episode "Errand of Mercy" in the first season of the original series, the Klingons were generally depicted as implacable enemies. Nevertheless, in the sixth film of the series, which concludes the journeys of the members of the original team, the Federation and the Klingons begin the process of peace. During the "Next Generation" period, the relations between the Klingons and the Federation are already, for the most part, those of mutual respect and strategic partnership. Admiration and sympathy for the Klingons and their culture developed among the fans of the series.
The movie "Star Trek 6: The Unknown Land" deals, at its conceptual level, mainly with the question of the ability to reconcile nations, and to move from hostile to friendly relations. Despite the obvious question marks, in the end the writers officially sided with the peace advocates. However, beneath the surface there are other questions that remain open. What is the meaning of peace? Have the Klingons "changed their evil ways"? Is their decision to "turn to the path of peace" nothing but a strategic decision in light of their "Chernobyl disaster" on Praxis Moon? And if peace with the Klingons is possible even though they haven't changed their ways, what is the same thing that created the conflict in the first place?
If so, this is the situation with regard to the Klingons in the first seasons of "Deep Space Nine". These seasons maintain the attitude towards the Klingons established in "The Next Generation". In other words, the Klingons are indeed fickle and hot-tempered, and far from the Federation's values, but the peace with them is strong, binding and determined by blood as described in the "Next Generation" series (3X15 "Yesterdays Enterprise", in the "Next Generation" series).
In the first seasons of "Deep Space Nine", there are indeed "bad" Klingons (such as Lorsa and Bator, who already in the third episode of the series continue their search from the "next generation" for ways to take over the Klingon Empire), but on the other hand "villains" from The original series like Kor and Kang are described in the episode, 2X19 "Blood Oath", as Dex's honorable friends.
The big turning point comes at the beginning of the fourth season (4x01, 4x02 The Way of the Warrior). The Klingons decide to attack Cardassia, under the pretext that the leadership of Cardassia has been replaced by "founders" from the Dominion. The Federation refuses to accept this excuse, and helps the members of the ruling Cardassian Datupa Council to escape from the attackers. In response, the head of the Klingon High Council, Gauron, cancels the Kitumer agreements. Despite decades of peace, it turns out that the Federation still has good reason to fear the Klingons, and they suddenly return to the official status of "bad guys".
Worf explains the behavior of the Klingons by saying that the thirst for conquest has once again become dominant among his people. However, is this the only possible reason? Don't the Klingons have a real reason to fear the rapprochement of relations between the Federation and the Cardassians, at a time when the Romulans share camouflage technology with the Federation (for use by the "definite")? Is it unreasonable to assume that perhaps the "founders" managed to infiltrate the leadership of Cardassia, as they infiltrated the leadership of the Romulan Tal-Shiar half a year earlier? And aren't the Klingons right in their anger towards the Federation, which helps their enemies?
At the beginning of the fifth season, in the episode "Apocalypse Rising", it is revealed that the Klingon general Martok, who initiated and encouraged the invasion of Cardassia, was actually replaced by a changeling. There was an "opportunity" here to clear the name of the Klingons, to present them as those who were only deceived by the Dominion. However, this "opportunity" is "missed" on purpose, as Gauron declares that once the Klingons have gone into battle, they will not return from it. In fact, one of the most significant episodes in "Deep Space Nine" for describing the horrors of war, (5X04 "Nor the Battle to the Strong") takes place only after this episode, and the enemies in it are the Klingons, not the Dominion. These reinstate the Kitomer agreements and return to the status of allies only when it becomes clear that the Cardassians have joined the Dominion. Ironically, the Klingons' original pretext for the invasion is fulfilling itself.
Later in the series, the Klingons serve as loyal allies to the Federation in the fight against the Dominion. However, it is difficult to get rid of the feeling that these allies were enemies only a short time before, and this fact adds to the complexity of the "Dominion War".
At this point in the series "the representative Klingon" (except for Worf, of course) is the real General Martok, who was rescued from captivity. Unlike the slippery Gauron, Martok is presented as a "good" Klingon. Towards the end of the series he even becomes chancellor in his place. Some may think that this will lead to another "new era" in the relations between the Federation and the Klingons, but one of the scenes in the final episode casts doubt on this, in an implicit way. In this scene, Captain Sisko, Admiral Ross and Martok gather to drink blood wine on defeated Cardassian soil. However, while Martok is happy to drink in celebration of victory, Cisco and Ross lose their thirst at the sight of destruction and death. Martok is left to drink alone, and filters between his teeth disdainfully, "Humans".
the cards
The game about the identity of the Cardassians as "bad" or "good" is, without a doubt, the most intense in the history of "Star Trek" and perhaps even the most profound and wide-ranging of them. Starting with their first appearance in episode 12 of the fourth season of "The Wounded" (The Wounded), this was a main topic of their engagement. In this episode, as you remember, O'Iain had to contrast his negative feelings towards the Cardassians against the Starfleet's obligation to maintain the ceasefire against them. Picard, for his part, although he prevents Captain Maxwell from degenerating the relationship between the Federation and the Cardassians into a war, is aware that the Cardassians are indeed working to arm themselves.
On top of that, the Cardassians, and their plot partners, the Bajors, are used to deal with conqueror-conquered relations. In this way they can be compared, in a rough way, to a pair of shining centaurs of "Babylon 5". Compared to this pair, the "sinners" of the Cardassims in Bajor are in a certain Hollywood way. The Cardassians, the "evil and militaristic conquerors" boast a stern and menacing appearance, while the "spiritually conquered" Bajors look almost human, except for their barbed noses. However, precisely this "cinematism" often helps to strengthen the preoccupation with their volatility. It is precisely the strength of their stereotypes that makes Nifoza particularly significant.
The beginning of the first season of "Deep Space Nine" introduces "evil" cards. At this point they are presented as the brutal former occupiers of Bajor, which is coming under Federation control, and are seen as the main potential threat. The first episode of the series also introduces the character that will "represent" to the greatest extent the Kardes and the upheavals that will go through them during the series, Gol Dukat, the former commander of the occupation.
However, already in its first season, the series presents an ambivalent attitude towards both the Cardassians and the Bajors. Even in the third episode, "Past Prologue", an "evil" Bajori who wants to collapse the wormhole to eliminate the Federation is introduced, as well as a "mysterious" Cardassian, Gark, whose intentions are unclear. To a large extent, Garek represents the "mystery" and the uncertainty that surrounds the Kardes throughout the series. In the episodes of the season corresponding to this season of "The Next Generation", 116X, 06X1, "Chain of Command", it is said that the military government in Cardassia only rose after a period of hunger and lack of resources - that is, it is not necessarily part of the "Cardassian nature".
The last two episodes of the season for the first time comprehensively shatter the stereotypes about the Cardassians and the Bajors. The first of them, "Duet", is considered by many to be one of the best episodes in the series. In this episode, Kira discovers that Cardassi, whom she thinks is a brutal war criminal, is actually a guilt-ridden clerk. Just when Kira comes to terms with being a good person, he is murdered by a criminal in Ajuri. In the final episode of the season, "In the Hands of the Prophets", the internal politics in the ranks of the Bajoran clergy are revealed in all their ugliness, with the help of the first appearance of Wedak Winn and Wedak Brayle. One of the main messages behind this pair of episodes is, not all Cardassians are bad, not all Bajors are good. The reality is more complex.
The second season finds the Cardassians in the midst of the process of changing their attitude towards them. At the beginning of the season, though, the Cardassians continue their subversion (according to the realistic-defensive interpretation above, their attempts to change the status quo) and secretly assist in the first three episodes of the season an attempted coup in the Bajori government. In the fifth episode of the season, "Cardassians", viewers will discover a scheming and cruel Ducat, who decided to leave the son of a political opponent behind in Bajor, in the hope that this will humiliate him one day. However, later in the season, towards the signing of the demilitarized zone arrangement, the attitude towards the Cardassims and Ducat begins to change at an increasing rate. In the 18th episode of the season, "Profit and Loss", viewers are introduced for the first time to the Cardassian underground, which is interested in overthrowing the military government in favor of a more enlightened form of government. After the signing of the disengagement agreement, Cisco and Ducat share an operation to prevent the Maki organization from worsening the relations between the two powers
(2×20, 2×21 "The Maquis").
Despite several evidences of the negative nature of the Cardassian society in episodes: 2×22 The Wire and 2×25 "Tribunal", the positive attitude towards the Cardassians gains momentum in the third season. In the fifth episode of the season, "Second Skin", viewers are once again exposed to the "good" Cardassian underground. In the ninth episode of the season, "Defiant", Cisco and Ducat share action for the second time in light of the hijacking of the ship "Defiant" by the Maquis. In the 13th episode of the season, "Life Support", the Cardassians "officially" complete their transformation into "good". In this episode, Bajor and Cardassia sign a peace treaty, and Vedek Brayle is even willing to sacrifice his life for that. In the 15th episode of the season, "Destiny", the attitude towards the Cardassians is successfully "tested" when three Cardassian female scientists arrive at the station as part of the "new era" of peace.
Towards the end of the third season, in the pair of episodes "Improbable Cause 3×20" and "The Die is Cast 3×21", the Cardassian Obsidian Order cooperates with the Romulan Tal-Shiar for a military operation to eliminate the home world of the "founders". In this way they hoped to eliminate the threat of the Dominion. These two "evil" shadow organizations are performing an act here that may be considered positive, and are receiving the tacit approval of Starfleet. Furthermore, the fact that the Dominion manages to mislead them and destroy most of their power provides them with a kind of catharsis.
The Cardassian refinement reaches a new peak at the beginning of the fourth season, in the double episode "The Way of the Warrior". In this chapter it was learned that the Cardassian underground succeeded, apparently, in overthrowing the military government in the absence of the power of the Obsidian Order, and establishing a civilian government. The Klingons decide in response to invade Cardassia. The Federation sides with the Cardassian civilian government. Later in the fourth season, the Federation continues to stand as an ally alongside the Cardassians who are presented as the victims of baseless Klingon aggression. In fact, the Cardassians thereby complete a transformation from a status of totalitarian conquerors at the beginning of the series to a status of liberal allies under attack.
At the same time as these events, the attitude towards ducat is getting better and better. In the fourth episode of the season, "Indiscretion", Dukat decides to abandon his plan to kill his half-Bajorian daughter, Ziel, even though revealing this will hurt his career. In the same episode, a bond of mutual respect begins to develop, apparently, between Dukat and Kira, who is supposed to hate him, due to his being the former slave commander of her people. In the 13th episode, "Return to Grace", viewers learn about the price Dukat had to pay for keeping Ziel alive - he is removed from his position and status. In this episode, he manages to take control of a Klingon bird of prey, and vows to fight the Klingons, while his government seeks a diplomatic solution with them. Ducat thus receives a kind of pretext for a romantic hero. From an occupation leader he is transformed into a Federation-friendly underground fighter. At the beginning of the fifth season, he even helps Cisco and his men infiltrate the Klingon Empire in order to reveal the urinal that infiltrated it.
Just when the viewers are getting used to the Cardas as allies and Gol Dukat as a positive character, the "great betrayal" comes. In the pair of episodes "In Purgatory's Shadow 5×14" and "By Inferno's Light 5×15" Dukat manages to rise to power in Cardassia and join the Dominion. In one, the Kardes complete another 180-degree turn and return to being the biggest "villains" of the series, even more clearly than they were at the beginning of the series. The gradual change for the better in relation to Ducat and the Cardassims is what makes the "betrayal" a significant blow, not to mention personal. In fact, Ducat's character was mostly uniform throughout the series - he was always an opportunist who strives for power, who believes in the greatness of his race and in his personal greatness. This is true both for the period when he was a "friend" to the Federation and also to the period when he was a "friend" to the Dominion (and to some extent even when he became the emissary of the "Fa-Rayths" towards the last season of the series).
However, the treachery of the Kardis, as terrible as it is, does not show that now "their true and evil face has been revealed". The reality, as usual, is more complex than that. Already in the final episode of the fifth season, "Call to Arms", hints can be found of the disagreements and mutual disrespect that will ultimately lead to the separation between the Cardassians and the Dominion. During the sixth season Dukat sinks into madness after he loses "Truk Nor" for the second time, and in fact ceases to represent the Cardes as a whole. His place is replaced by his assistant, Damar.
During the sequence of final episodes of the series in its seventh season, Damar comes to the conclusion that Cardassia under the rule of the Dominion will not enjoy independence and power, and that the Cardassian people will actually become an occupied people. Therefore, he establishes an underground movement that will oppose the Dominion. The Kardes are once again "good". It should be noted, however, that as the Klingons did twice, the Cardassians are also returning to being allies to the Federation for purely strategic reasons, rather than moral or ideological ones. It seems, though, that the experience of living under foreign occupation caused Damar to change his mind about Cardassia's former totalitarian ways. However, Damar died in the final battle against the Dominion, and the future of the Cardassians remains unclear.
The Cardes, then, compare their "score" in the big game to the Klingon one, but in a much shorter time. From brutal conquerors at the beginning of "Deep Space Nine", to victims of Klingon aggression in the fourth season, to the evil men who threaten to conquer the Quadrant in the fifth season, to Holocaust victims towards the end of the series. Furthermore, unlike the Klingons who came out relatively unscathed from the changes in the Federation's attitude towards them, the Cardassians had to pay a lot of blood every time they moved from the ranks of the "Forces of Darkness" to the "Sons of Light".
