Are there any good reasons to not want to be in the Federation?

[fireproof78]

Self determination is a big factor, too

It's probably the biggest factor. The Klingons felt they would lose it if they joined the Federation. Other planets are shown to not want foreign influence or be drawn in to wars.

The Federation also represents an obligation in some way in support of other members and what Wars they might fight. There's a lot of conflicts that the Federation has been involved in. Some worlds might not want to participate in those obligations.

 

[BillJ]

I wouldn’t want to live on the Federation frontier. Starfleet constantly goes around kicking hornets nests.

 

[at Quark's]

I wouldn’t want to live on the Federation frontier. Starfleet constantly goes around kicking hornets nests.

How about those Neutral Zone colonies from early TNG?

You're going to live next door to an untrustworthy neighbour, that hasn't talked to you for over a century, in a zone where no Starships are allowed from either side. But there's no way to be sure those Romulans won't show up in a surprise raid after all, as they do have cloaking devices.

Fortunately that doesn't happen.

Instead, you're scooped up by a giant Borg cube and assimilated.

 

[BillJ]

Instead, you're scooped up by a giant Borg cube and assimilated.

Living on Earth, you face the same risk.

 

[at Quark's]

^true, as far as the Borg are concerned. But probably not the Romulan risk.

 

[Citiprime]

The Federation is not a utopia, and it never was. Is it better than most other organizations we've seen? Certainly. But we're also seeing the Federation through the eyes of either Starfleet officers or Federation citizens for a majority of the franchise.

One thing that's pretty much never been touched on is what would the arguments be about "domestic policy" in the Federation?

We only see the foreign policy side of things from Starfleet. But what may or may not be intense debates among the Federation Council when it comes to the internal policies of the Federation are rarely ever touched on.

For example, can you have a debate about taxes and spending in a government that's money-less? And there doesn't seem to be immigration issues, since non-Federation members seem to be free to travel and reside throughout the Federation.

 

[Shawnster]

The Federation came together due to the Romulan threat. If the Romulan threat had not happened I doubt very much beyond trade agreements Earth, Vulcan, Tellar , Andor etc would have created the UFP.

Now that would make an interesting setting for an Alt universe story

 

[Nyotarules]

Now that would make an interesting setting for an Alt universe story

The Myriad universe novels have alternatives to the UFP

 

[Oddish]

Clearly eugenics and biological augmentation is illegal. Bashir's parents broke the law in genetically modifying Julian. Illyrians were prevented from joining the Federation due to exercising the choice of genetic automation.

I think that that's because the Federation leadership knows where such a policy leads: to a caste system, with the genius/athlete "elites" rising to the top due to their greater strength and intellect, and the non-enhanced second class sinking lower. Inevitably, being genetically enhanced will become nearly necessary. Best to keep that genie FIRMLY bottled up.

Now that would make an interesting setting for an Alt universe story

Maybe one where a time traveling Romulan was canny enough to convince their people to leave the proto-Federation races alone. It never forms, and the Romulans gain control of the quadrant.

 

[Nyotarules]

Well if everyone is enhanced, like the Illyrian society, then there won't be a caste system.

 

[Shawnster]

I think that that's because the Federation leadership knows where such a policy leads: to a caste system

Well if everyone is enhanced, like the Illyrian society, then there won't be a caste system.

Exactly. It does not always have to lead to a caste system. By saying that it does, isn't that the slippery slope fallacy?

This is a reason to reject Federation membership. Self determination. Does not agree with certain restrictions the Federation would impose.

 

[Tenacity]

with the genius/athlete "elites" rising to the top due to their greater strength and intellect

Isn't that a description of the Vulcans.

 

[Oddish]

There's no indication that Vulcans are more intelligent than humans. More cerebral, yes. More logical, of course. Stronger, obviously, due to biological differences, just as a Clydesdale is stronger than either. And in ENT, more experienced with how the galaxy works. But not more intelligent.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

That says you don't lose anything, but you already had that. What do you gain?

From being on this board for a while, some fans said that the Federation becomes the governing body above your government, and not just that but also dictates changes in your culture and society, you conform. Your military becomes the Federations military; your starships are incorporated into starfleet.

Anything illegal in the Federation is now illegal on your worlds. Self-determination is gone.

Some fans suggest that religion is suppressed, because of course.

The TOS Federation seemed much better, the Federation was the weaker of the pairing. But was that still the case with TNG and onward?

There's on screen evidence from both DS9 and Voyager that Starfleet is generally tolerant of religious beliefs unless those beliefs require someone to be hurt or killed.

A culture that had a hostile religion or one that required sacrifices or something would never be granted Federation membership to begin with.

 

[Shawnster]

Why bother joining? Why not just be an ally and trade partner?

You are some small fry planet. Your territory is one star system located in Federation space. You are warp capable, aware of the greater galaxy. You have negotiated treaties with your neighbors.

What do you get by joining the Federation that you don't already have? Holodecks and reolicators? Advanced medical care? Nah, you already have those through treaty trade agreements. Borders are open. You have a post scarcity society.

Milit..... um... Starfleet protection from foreign aggressors? Nah, you have that already. Your territory is in Federation space. They are not going to let a foreign aggressive power set up shop in your system. They will fight the Dominion for you. They will prevent the Romulans from setting up shop in your system.

What do I get by joining that I don't get simply by being a good friendly neighbor?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Influence. If you want to drive Federation policy in a certain direction, joining can give you networking opportunities and the chance to belong to committees working on large-scale projects.

 

[kevinc]

I think the main reason not to join the Federation is a clash of cultures. The simplest examples that come to mind are the
- aggressive/violent Klingons,
- oppressive/authoritarian Cardassians, and
- hypercapitalist Ferengi
- super-collective machine-perfected Borg

Their way of life is simply incompatible with the Fereration's ideals of an open, utopian, cooperative, post-conflict, post-scarcity society. They don't trust that the ideals of the Federation will keep them safe and secure, or improve their lives in what is still a dangerous galaxy.

 

[Oddish]

^ Well said. It's no surprise that the Ferengi joined the Federation later, after turning into Federation 2.0... I maintain that that was in part from Prophets' influence (in "Prophet Motive", they didn't change Zek back completely) and greater participation in their society by females.

What do I get by joining that I don't get simply by being a good friendly neighbor?

Mutual defense. If Bajor had been in the Federation 50 years ago, the Cardassians wouldn't have dared to occupy it.

 

[Tenacity]

Why bother joining? Why not just be an ally and trade partner?

The only advantage I've ever been able to see is Starfleet. A defense co-operative, yes yes Starfleet engages in exploration and other activities, but it's the Federations "big stick" primarily.

Influence. If you want to drive Federation policy in a certain direction

This would, over time, likely completely change the Federation. The founding members would quickly be outnumbered by later hundreds of additions. When the United States expanded after it's creation, it was basically an expansion of the same culture/society. Hundreds of alien societies which developed in isolation are going to be fundamentally different from each other. Unless the new additions agree to be changed into a "Federation standard," which is a giant reason not to join.

If Bajor had been in the Federation 50 years ago, the Cardassians wouldn't have dared to occupy it.

A big reason that I think Bajor will not join the Federation after Cardassias defeat in the Dominion War. Maintain a relationship yes, but the reason to join would be gone. And the reason the Federation wanted Bajor to join also gone.

 

[StarTrek1701]

Vulcan, a Federation founding member planet, banished Sybok, its own citizen, for daring to show emotion.
Norah Satie still had anti-Romulan xenophobia, proving there could be others with the same ideals, for which Simon Tarses had to hide his heritage.
Dr Bashir's parents were put through the wringer because of their decision to genetically engineer Julian.

Joining the Federation has a lot of perks but they also come with baggage.
But in the above examples it clearly shows the writers of various Trek over the years has been marvelously inconsistent about what benefits there really are about being IN the Federation.