I wouldn't want Bajor in the Federation if I was a Fed

[You_Will_Fail]

I'm rewatching DS9 from the beginning at the moment and remembering what I love about it...anyway they were already talking about admitting Bajor to the Federation in DS9 but is it just me or does the planet not quite seem to meet the standards? It seems like it was still a planet full of very volatile, superstitious and occasionally hostile nutjobs, it seems like they needed at least a generation more before the planet would even become viable. Or were they only going to admit it to the Federation because its beside the wormhole and they want a firmer grasp on the wormhole....if that's the case the Federation seems a bit empire-ish, they want to control certain resources so assimilate the relevant worlds into their organization.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

It seems like it was still a planet full of very volatile, superstitious and occasionally hostile nutjobs,

You mean like Andor?

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

If I were from Bajor, I wouldn't want the Federation gaining any sovereignty over my world. An alliance between sovereign powers--acceptable. Being absorbed into the Federation? No thanks. The Feds would likely try to alter Bajor's form of government and impose other things that might be opposed to Bajoran beliefs and values. Those matters should be for Bajor itself to settle, not for anyone else.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I completely agree Nerys Ghemor.

 

[You_Will_Fail]

It seems like it was still a planet full of very volatile, superstitious and occasionally hostile nutjobs,

You mean like Andor?

That's obviously not remotely comparable.
Andor was a founder of an alliance that grew into a larger Federation of planets and the ideals of that Federation were formed and solidified over time.

Also I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to be a member of the Feds, it gives you so much security.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Andorians as a race are presented as volatile and hostile and even in TOS are still at odds with their co founding Federation member world, Tellar. They are far more of a loose cannon than the Bajoran sheep.

 

[DAYoung]

Article 563.3.2. of the Federation Charter:

"Supernatural smugness is considered legitimate grounds for rejection from the Federation."

Sorry, Bajor. Ensign Ro is still welcome on DS9, though.

 

[MacLeod]

I will admit it's been a while since I saw "Emissary" but wasn't part of Sisko's job there to help Bajor to be ready for Federation Membership. Wormhole or no wormhole?

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Article 563.3.2. of the Federation Charter:

"Supernatural smugness is considered legitimate grounds for rejection from the Federation."

Humanist smugness rejects supernatural smugness and both sides implode in the smugness aftershock.

 

[DAYoung]

Article 563.3.2. of the Federation Charter:

"Supernatural smugness is considered legitimate grounds for rejection from the Federation."

Humanist smugness rejects supernatural smugness and both sides implode in the smugness aftershock.

We're not smug. We're just right. And proud of it.

*cough*

 

[Skywalker]

Join the Federation! We have root beer!

 

[Jono]

I will admit it's been a while since I saw "Emissary" but wasn't part of Sisko's job there to help Bajor to be ready for Federation Membership. Wormhole or no wormhole?

It was. Picard gave his speech about it before the wormhole was found.

Ignoring any benevolent reasons I think the main reason the Federation would want Bajor is because of its strategic location on Cardassia Prime's doorstep. Given the ink had barely dried on the peace treaty between the UFP and Cardassian Union it wouldn't be surprising for Starfleet to be extra interested in hurrying Bajor into the Federation.

 

[MHT1138]

Bajor was planning to join the Federation in the 5th season? until Sisko, the Emissary, said no. And I think by the 5th season, they were probably ready.
I don't think the Federation imposes changes after the planet is admitted, but certain requirements do have to be met before they can be admitted. I would think there would be a waiting period as well. Thinking about it, I'm not sure that Bajor had waited long enough. One would think that the Federation would want to make sure the changes were genuine, before admitting a planet.

 

[The Dominion]

I've never seen joining the Federation as being "absorbed." I always thought that the purpose of it was as an agreement to work together to provide security to each other, and that internal politics and culture of planets didn't matter as long as they weren't hostile to other members. The only political change would be that each member has to play by the rules of the Federation when conducting foreign relations.

 

[Kemaiku]

The individual running of the planet is still very much up to the natives themselves. The Vulcans seem to have continued to be spiritual, meditative philantropists well after joining. The Andorian government as it's constantly volatile nature didn't seem to change too much either, and although it's not canon specifically the Caitian's repeatidly left and rejoined because of their internal bickering.

The member planet is still given a lot of lieway to run things and continue their culture unchanged, the Bajoran culture would go on as it always has. Individual Bajorans wishing to join Starfleet would have to face up to not having their imaginary beliefs pampered or catered too as it would be at home and deal with reality like everyone else, but Ro managed it, and I assume plenty of others would too.

The majority of the planets inhabitants day to day lives would not change like that, except for having access to technology and aid from the entire Federation to say, help plant crops, treat disease and infirmity, etc

 

[Damask]

I thought over time they did stabilize? They did just go through an Occupation and that did take time to overcome which is why Sisko was there from a Fed pov.

I believe they did go from a "provisional" government and dropped the provisional in later seasons? There's always individual nutjobs but by Season 5 ish they did seem fairly stable. Or at least no different from any other world?

And of course their supernatural smugness did win the Dominion War for the Federation. If the Bajoran Gods didn't close the wormhole, the Alpha Quadrant would have been defeated.

 

[BennyRussel]

...
Also I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to be a member of the Feds, it gives you so much security.

Many people are not willing to relinquish their freedom, faith and way-of-life for the sake of security. A lot of Bajorans felt that way.

Yes Bajor had to prove itself ready to join the UFP. but the UFP also had to prove to Bajorans that their culture and faith would not be stamped out. Many were willing to let the UFP go and take their chances.

 

[Ian Keldon]

If I were from Bajor, I wouldn't want the Federation gaining any sovereignty over my world. An alliance between sovereign powers--acceptable. Being absorbed into the Federation? No thanks. The Feds would likely try to alter Bajor's form of government and impose other things that might be opposed to Bajoran beliefs and values. Those matters should be for Bajor itself to settle, not for anyone else.

And they would be. Your claim goes against everything we know about the Federation and it's internal politics.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The initial premise of DS9 was that the Federation was trying to influence Bajor to make it fit into the mold of a good little Federation world - before they would be admitted into the Federation.

So it was always up to the Bajorans themselves, whether and when to become the sort of society that could join the Federation. Sisko was there to assist, but not put a phaser to anyone's head.

And I'm sure the Federation prioritizes the worlds it considers - and coaches - for admission at least partly on strategic lines. The Federation hasn't survived for centuries by being naive saps.

 

[Sci]

The member planet is still given a lot of lieway to run things and continue their culture unchanged, the Bajoran culture would go on as it always has. Individual Bajorans wishing to join Starfleet would have to face up to not having their imaginary beliefs pampered or catered too as it would be at home and deal with reality like everyone else,

Their "imaginary beliefs?"

Which beliefs of theirs, exactly, were imaginary? That the Prophets exist? That the Prophets were engaged in an ongoing conflict with entities of the same kind known as the Pagh-wraiths? That the Prophets can accurately predict the future? That the Prophets communicate with humanoids through the Orbs? That the Prophets live in the Wormhole? That the Prophets make demands of Bajorans who communicate with them?

'Cos, last I checked, all of those "imaginary beliefs" were empirically true.