Would the Federation and the Culture (Ian Banks) get along ?

[at Quark's]

They're both affluent societies and seem to share several key values (that by sheer coincidence happen to resemble to some extent general modern western values, I'm sure).

However, there are also major points of difference between them of which pervasive genetic engineering, artificial intelligence and interfering with other and 'lesser' cultures (the culture, or Special Circumstances at least seems quite fond of doing that) come to my mind first (but there might be a lot more).

So, suppose that the Culture and the Federation established contact. How would relations between them develop in the short and in the longer term?

 

[Christopher]

Interesting question. I think that both civilizations would be willing to get along despite their differences. After all, the Federation is somehow willing to be allies with the Klingons even though they still engage in warlike behavior and conquest. So I don't think they'd let a few differences of opinion with the Culture erupt into enmity.

Of course, the Culture is a far older and more powerful civilization, so they'd probably have the advantage. They're also pretty loose and inclusive for the most part. I think that over the long term, the Culture would gently assimilate the Federation, or at least portions of it. Not so much by deliberate design as through simple coexistence and shared interest, with the Culture being so loosely affiliated that anyone who's on basically friendly terms and participates in the overall community is essentially part of it, no formal political union required (at least, that's the way I seem to recall it).

As for the AIs, I don't think the Federation has any firm institutional prejudice against them; they're just fairly new, and the UFP doesn't have much experience with them. But the legal and cultural precedents so far with respect to Data and the Doctor have tended toward acceptance and inclusion. As for genetic engineering, there are lingering fears in the wake of the Eugenics Wars and the 22nd-century Augment crises, but I think enough time interacting with a culture in which genetic enhancement has not led to a race of conquerors would change public opinion.

As for Special Circumstances and intervention, maybe the Federation's involvement in the Culture might serve as a tempering influence on that intervention. I'm sure the two would debate the issue intently, and might eventually arrive at a middle ground between their approaches, as well-intentioned and mature participants in a debate often do.

So in the long term, we'd end up with a Culture that included the Federation as one of its many subcultures, and that remained largely the Culture but with some modulation toward Federation ideas, or at least inclusion of Federation ideas as part of its diversity.

Plus, Starfleet ships would end up with much more interesting names. "These are the voyages of the starship A Peculiar Variety of Diplomacy."

 

[at Quark's]

As for Special Circumstances and intervention, maybe the Federation's involvement in the Culture might serve as a tempering influence on that intervention. I'm sure the two would debate the issue intently, and might eventually arrive at a middle ground between their approaches, as well-intentioned and mature participants in a debate often do.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. The reason I'm not so sure is that, even though the Culture is kind of anarchic, we're also told that it is ultimately run by those super-Minds (artificial intelligences), (some of whom are also participating in Special Circumstances). We are told that their intelligence and speed of thought is many orders of magnitude beyond what any mortal could possibly comprehend-- and hence probably any (group of) Federation representative(s). Even though it seems the Minds respect the wills of individuals, I'm not sure there could be a discussion between these two parties as equal partners.

I do agree with the rest of your post, I think gradual 'assimilation' of the Federation could be a likely outcome.

Plus, Starfleet ships would end up with much more interesting names. "These are the voyages of the starship A Peculiar Variety of Diplomacy."

Would have been a nice name for the Defiant