The Federation Prime Directive; Non Interfere Policy

[Brainsucker]

According to Wikipedia. The Non Interfere Policy is written like this :

As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Star Fleet personnel may interfere with the normal and healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes introducing superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely. Star Fleet personnel may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their ship, unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral obligation.

But guys, not to mention that it is too idealistic, but also, is illogical. Because space is not belong solely to the United Federation of Planet. There are Ferengi, Klingon, Romulan etc who can interact with these people, even when The Federation / Star Fleet not. So what's the point then? Does Federation capable to protect those "Medieval Era" Species from other Great Power? They are not the sole Super Power who can tell every one to do their biding. And Star Fleet won't have enough resource / military capability to protect all the lesser technologically species from Romulan, Klingon, Dominion, Borg, etc.

Plus, the reason that those creature will polluted by the 24th Technology is sound stupid. If they are not ready to learn the 24th Century Technology, then they won't be able to learn it even when you teach them how to build Warp Drive.

So, I think, it is stupid, and pointless.

 

[Timo]

Wikipedia may have its own ideas, but onscreen the story of the Prime Directive is told in far less detail or definiteness.

I guess the only part of that entry that approximates the onscreen reality is the reference to "Starfleet personnel": they are indeed the ones that the PD is supposed to hobble, and the reason might simply be to stop these already immensely powerful operators of starships from playing god too often. "Keeping virgin cultures virgin" does not enter the picture.

Speculation beyond this abounds. The UFP might be like the Borg, wishing to keep a supply of unspoiled cultures available so that their fresh ideas can be assimilated in the fullness of time. Or then it's nice to have in writing that the UFP policy is not to bother with interference and intervention unless absolutely necessary. Etc. But the "moral obligation" pontification really isn't part of the PD as exhibited on screen.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[SWHouston]

I don't see why it (PD) exists at all. When our hero Picard can on one hand, pontificate it even at the demise of a entire race, and on the other, casually let it slip by at his leisure. It no doubt was scripted in to avail the lack of stability of the character....UOOPS, I meant to lend one's notice to how hard the job is. Hurrumph.

 

[Unicron]

I think the idea of the PD is fine in theory, but it's been so haphazardly described and applied at times that it loses a lot of that good potential. Part of the problem is that most of the canonical references are too vague on its intended scope; it's implied that a species needs a certain degree of technological development to help judge if they're ready for first contact, which is logical to a degree, and yet we also have episodes like "Friday's Child" where the Federation is openly dealing with cultures not at that level.

 

[SWHouston]

It seems in most cases, if not all, that there is little to no guidance ask from Star Fleet Adm. So, it then falls on those who are emotionally challenged .

 

[Brainsucker]

Wikipedia may have its own ideas, but onscreen the story of the Prime Directive is told in far less detail or definiteness.

I guess the only part of that entry that approximates the onscreen reality is the reference to "Starfleet personnel": they are indeed the ones that the PD is supposed to hobble, and the reason might simply be to stop these already immensely powerful operators of starships from playing god too often. "Keeping virgin cultures virgin" does not enter the picture.

Speculation beyond this abounds. The UFP might be like the Borg, wishing to keep a supply of unspoiled cultures available so that their fresh ideas can be assimilated in the fullness of time. Or then it's nice to have in writing that the UFP policy is not to bother with interference and intervention unless absolutely necessary. Etc. But the "moral obligation" pontification really isn't part of the PD as exhibited on screen.

Timo Saloniemi

I think I agree with you. Maybe They just want to prevent the Starfleet Personnel from abusing their power and play god with those people. Technologically backward people won't suddenly capable to leap forward in culture and technology. Even when you (the modern / highly advanced people) visit them officially. But, in the other side, you can do whatever you like to toy them.

 

[T'Girl]

and yet we also have episodes like "Friday's Child" where the Federation is openly dealing with cultures not at that leve

Maybe not a violation of the PD because the contact and trade negotiations were at the instruction of the Federation's governance, and not the decision of a local Starfleet officer.

 

[Timo]

Or then because the local culture was already spoiled rotten by extensive contact with Klingons and Orions.

FWIW, the PD is also quoted as a reason not to interfere in the internal affairs of advanced and actively starfaring societies. Yet the UFP does that very sort of interference forcibly, "at all costs", in a number of TOS episodes. This really sounds like a case where "wrong" becomes "right" after the government so decides, whereas soldiers can't make the decision. If the government couldn't make such decisions, what use would it be?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Unicron]

Maybe not a violation of the PD because the contact and trade negotiations were at the instruction of the Federation's governance, and not the decision of a local Starfleet officer.

That's a valid point, but I guess it would depend on what the proper "interpretation" of the PD should ideally be. If the concern is creating undue influence on cultures that are not at the same developmental level, then one could argue the FC story is a case of not doing so. I recall FASA said the first record of an officer being punished for violating the PD was for intervening to halt a nuclear war that would have likely devastated the planet (specifically, he destroyed the warheads with phasers but didn't otherwise interfere with the factions), and he was found guilty by the Fed courts since his actions were considered to be a form of interference.

 

[BillJ]

TOS got it right. Help where you can but don't interfere with the local governance. Don't solve their problems for them, but try to help if they are going to be obliterated by something they never see coming.

But even then, so much of the Prime Directive is up to personal interpretation. Maybe we need a "Prime Directive" officer in the next series?

 

[SWHouston]

I'd take an upgrade on the Shields first, no telling what one of those guys cost !

 

[Unicron]

It would have been interesting to see the "political officer" concept used more in TNG, which eventually evolved into Troi's counselor position. The idea was that since the new Enterprise was intended to be on the frontiers of known space and have more limited contact with the Federation's home ports (hence families), this officer would serve as their voice in issues where the captain or first officer might feel conflicted in terms of the Prime Directive or other policy.

 

[BillJ]

It would have been interesting to see the "political officer" concept used more in TNG, which eventually evolved into Troi's counselor position. The idea was that since the new Enterprise was intended to be on the frontiers of known space and have more limited contact with the Federation's home ports (hence families), this officer would serve as their voice in issues where the captain or first officer might feel conflicted in terms of the Prime Directive or other policy.

In the comics written by Peter David that take place after Star Trek V, Kirk was assigned such an officer. RJ Blaise. It was interesting until the character was dropped because of Richard Arnold.

http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/R.J._Blaise

 

[T'Girl]

Maybe we need a "Prime Directive" officer in the next series?

Something like modern Navy JAG officers, who legally sign off on bombing missions?

It would have been interesting to see the "political officer" concept used more in TNG

Or maybe not an officer, but a civilian representative of the Council, would also like to see someone like a CIA intelligence analyst who is seen in briefing room scenes.

†

 

[Timo]

TOS got it right. Help where you can but don't interfere with the local governance. Don't solve their problems for them, but try to help if they are going to be obliterated by something they never see coming.

TOS relatively seldom did that, though. Kirk preferred to solve problems that were no problems for the locals: he toppled stable governments in "Return of the Archons" and "The Apple". Kirk also solved problems that were clearly internal matters: he toppled governments in "Patterns of Force" and "Omega Glory" in the mistaken belief that UFP citizens had something to do with the fact that these governments existed and behaved the way they did. Heck, in "A Taste of Armageddon", Kirk toppled a government purely for self-defense...

"Bread and Circuses" is probably the only adventure in which Kirk shows any restraint, aptly letting "When in Rome" be his motto for once.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Brainsucker]

It would have been interesting to see the "political officer" concept used more in TNG, which eventually evolved into Troi's counselor position. The idea was that since the new Enterprise was intended to be on the frontiers of known space and have more limited contact with the Federation's home ports (hence families), this officer would serve as their voice in issues where the captain or first officer might feel conflicted in terms of the Prime Directive or other policy.

That's like a Communist Armed Force. In China (and Uni Soviet) there are always two officers. The Commander and the political Commisar.

I think the "Non Interfere PD" should be considered as disciplinary Order for the Star Fleet Officers who explore out there. So they won't miss use the capability that they got from Star Fleet to make a problem with those "Lesser Technological Creatures". But it's different if the Federation herself who decide to interfere and approach the Species, if they think that they need to do it.

But I don't agree with the "Warp Drive Invention" as trigger for the Lesser Creature to be approach by Starfleet Officers. First Contact should be solely the right to the delegation that appointed by the Federation Government. And the "approaching" mission should not because of the Warp Drive invention. But purely because of the Federation Government political decission and interest.

 

[Timo]

So far, we have no reason to think Starfleet or the Federation would wait (let alone be obligated to wait) for the local discovery of warp drive before initiating contact. Indeed, exceptions to such putative rule abound.

It's just that the local discovery of warp drive is the absolute last moment when the UFP can initiate first contact on its own terms. After that, the locals will be the ones making the contact, on their terms! Hence the TNG episode where we learn that the UFP starts paying special attention as civilizations near the point where they themselves will be capable of making contact. But some civilizations warrant contact long before that, especially if already extensively contacted by others.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Brainsucker]

So far, we have no reason to think Starfleet or the Federation would wait (let alone be obligated to wait) for the local discovery of warp drive before initiating contact. Indeed, exceptions to such putative rule abound.

It's just that the local discovery of warp drive is the absolute last moment when the UFP can initiate first contact on its own terms. After that, the locals will be the ones making the contact, on their terms! Hence the TNG episode where we learn that the UFP starts paying special attention as civilizations near the point where they themselves will be capable of making contact. But some civilizations warrant contact long before that, especially if already extensively contacted by others.

Timo Saloniemi

This is more reasonable approach for the First Contact policy. I hope that the writer of new Star Trek Series read our discussion and make the reason behind Federation's Prime Directive or Rule be more realistic. Not poisoned by stupid idealist reason

 

[T'Girl]

That's like a Communist Armed Force. In China (and Uni Soviet) there are always two officers. The Commander and the political Commisar.

In the early Israeli military ships the political officer was the official captain, while the person who actually ran the ship was a lower officer.

Kirk preferred to solve problems that were no problems for the locals: he toppled stable governments in "Return of the Archons" and "The Apple"

Yes, but in both cases "the government" was attacking his ship.

Kirk ... toppled governments in "Patterns of Force" and "Omega Glory"

Patterns of Force, Kirk did engineer the fall of the deputy leader, but the existing government stood at the end.

Omega Glory, Kirk had no hand in the collapse of the remnant of the Khom nation, and Cloud Williams' forces were still in power when Kirk left.

Heck, in "A Taste of Armageddon", Kirk toppled a government purely for self-defense...

The government was intact at the end of the episode, although Kirk did force a change in government policy.

†

 

[BillJ]

he toppled stable governments in "Return of the Archons" and "The Apple".

Which would fall under the "living cultures" clause that obviously exists.

Kirk also solved problems that were clearly internal matters: he toppled governments in "Patterns of Force" and "Omega Glory" in the mistaken belief that UFP citizens had something to do with the fact that these governments existed and behaved the way they did.

Gill brought the Nazi ideology with him from the Federation. Tracy was attempting to change the balance of power based on his belief that Omega IV offered a fountain of youth. When he left Omega IV, the status quo still existed.

Heck, in "A Taste of Armageddon", Kirk toppled a government purely for self-defense...

After being forced into the situation by another Federation official. One could probably also make the argument about whether or not Eminiar VII was a "living culture" as they had been locked into an action for five centuries.