Is the Borg Collective a warped take on Starfleet/the Federation?

[CRM-114]

This is a theory I'm thinking through as I write this, but it first occurred to me this evening.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized the Borg Collective functions like a funhouse-mirror version of Starfleet/the Federation. Consider the parallels that can be drawn between the two:

-Both function as massive spacefaring organizations built around a complex command structure.
-Both are built out of a diverse group of races from throughout the galaxy (the Borg having the greater reach of course), but by and large, humanoid.
-Both are built upon the oddly similar notion of "seeking out new life forms, and new civilizations", and by extension, the Collective/Federation and those new lifeforms/individuals mutually benefit from the encounter.
-Both function under the unexpectedly similar philosophy that the individual has a place/role within the group and the individual and group may mutually benefit from it. The Collective believe that a "distinctive" person/race contributes to the Collective as whole. Starfleet certainly is sold as a place where exceptional people have the opportunity to excel to the best of their abilities, and Starfleet benefits from having "the best and the brightest" among their ranks.
-Both expect the individual to assimilate to the environment/culture of the whole. With the Borg, this involves the implantation of Borg technology and connecting to the hive mind, so that a drone may fulfill the role the Collective has decided for them. Within Starfleet, assimilation involves wearing the uniform, embracing the ranked command structure, the obedience of rules and regulations, plus the expected performance of one's duties wherever Starfleet has determined they will serve.
-Both are structured such that they may have a singular figure who is empowered to represent the group as a whole. With the Collective, it may be a particular drone ("We are the Borg, resistance is futile..."), but more specifically, it may be the Borg Queen. Within Starfleet, a starship Captain is given tremendous leeway and authority to function as a representative of Starfleet and function as a dignitary on behalf of the Federation as a whole.

What do you guys think?

 

[Tenacity]

Both expect the individual to assimilate to the environment/culture of the whole.

In Starfleet, the individual never ceases to be a individual, the individual is a part of a team, but the team doesn't function as a group consciousness..

 

[φ of π]

Yes.

 

[at Quark's]

There is one other group of aliens that in my eyes even fits this bill more, and that was specifically intended to 'mirror' the Federation, as per the following quote (from http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Dominion),

The Dominion was conceived as "a sort of unifying anti-Federation in a way, just to give it a completely different character," said Robert Hewitt Wolfe. Indeed, the group was intended to be similar in structure to the Federation but with very different ideologies. The Dominion was to represent a wide array of alien races, just as does the Federation (as opposed to the mono-species Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, and Cardassian Union), but it was to be fascist-like, ruled by coercion and domination, in contrast to the cooperation and freedom of the Federation.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Unlike the Borg, the Federation doesn't force worlds to join against their will, so I'd have to say no.

 

[Spot261]

I'd agree, the borg seem almost purpose fit to be a warning to the federation about where it could go wrong, with the main difference being the federation's respect for individuals and their choices.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

There is one other group of aliens that in my eyes even fits this bill more, and that was specifically intended to 'mirror' the Federation, as per the following quote (from http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Dominion),

I still would love to see this concept worked out more deeply in some future Trek series. The Dominion was great, but as soon as the Jem'Hadar appeared the anti-Federation concept went out the window and got replaced with a singular hitleresque overlord race supported by mono-chromatic shock troops. I would love to see the Federation trying to deal with an actual political alliance of many different races that was as big/powerful as or bigger than the Federation and which just happened to massively disagree on all the Federation's highest ideals (say, no democracy, no welfare state, lots of genetic engineering, lots of interfering with inferior cultures, etc).

 

[ItIsGreen]

I understand the notion, however the way the Borg were introduced in TNG was as a singular species with the sole intent of acquiring technology. Later additions to them, usually to service a particular story, such as introducing assimilation in BOBW as an excuse for them to capture Picard, or the Queen in First Contact, made them so. I doubt it was ever a conscious decision by the writers, however your theory holds up quite well and I like it.

In Starfleet, the individual never ceases to be a individual, the individual is a part of a team, but the team doesn't function as a group consciousness..

But in both, the individual/drone works in harmony with the other members on their assigned tasks in order to benefit the larger whole.

Unlike the Borg, the Federation doesn't force worlds to join against their will, so I'd have to say no.

Which is why the OP is saying they're a twisted version of the Federation.

There is one other group of aliens that in my eyes even fits this bill more, and that was specifically intended to 'mirror' the Federation, as per the following quote (from http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Dominion),

I see what you're saying, but they've never felt that way to me when watching DS9. They had a clear command structure (Founders at the top, Jem'Hadar on the front lines and Vorta as intermediaries between the two), but we never saw all that much of other supposed members, until Dukat signed Cardassia up. And the way they were spoken of in the Gamma Quadrant before they were fully introduced reminded me more of some kind of interstellar Mafia protection racket.

 

[Tracy Trek]

I would love to see the Federation trying to deal with an actual political alliance of many different races that was as big/powerful as or bigger than the Federation and which just happened to massively disagree on all the Federation's highest ideals (say, no democracy, no welfare state, lots of genetic engineering, lots of interfering with inferior cultures, etc).

I don't think such a society could be classified as an alliance, sounds more like a dictatorship to me.

 

[The Wormhole]

Unlike the Borg, the Federation doesn't force worlds to join against their will, so I'd have to say no.

Nah, the Federation just manipulates a world into thinking they're voluntarily joining. Eddington said so.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

I don't think such a society could be classified as an alliance, sounds more like a dictatorship to me.

Dictators can form alliances, just like anyone. Cooperation can exist in any environment...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Nah, the Federation just manipulates a world into thinking they're voluntarily joining. Eddington said so.

Eddington is full of shit.

 

[CRM-114]

I'd agree, the borg seem almost purpose fit to be a warning to the federation about where it could go wrong, with the main difference being the federation's respect for individuals and their choices.

The Borg could possibly be interpreted as a distortion of Starfleet/Federation ideals and taken to an absurd degree. I think that's probably the simplest summary of my thoughts.

 

[Seven of Five]

I like this theory. Being as the Borg have grown over time, I imagine that it wasn't the original intention, yet I see a lot of parallels.

 

[soornge]

there is a theory that they were created by v'ger another one generated by augments : i onow origianlly they were supposed to be like like species 1852 but were changed over the course of writing as far as them mirrorinf starfleet or more accuretly the federation well...thats just good writing

 

[Arpy]

I think originally the Borg were created to depict the dangers of cybernetics. Careful, folks, or you'll have pipes coming out of your cheeks and be unable to relate to people and to try to take their piping too.

This is a theory I'm thinking through as I write this, but it first occurred to me this evening.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized the Borg Collective functions like a funhouse-mirror version of Starfleet/the Federation. Consider the parallels that can be drawn between the two:

-Both function as massive spacefaring organizations built around a complex command structure.

Everyone has a complex command structure except the Borg.

-Both are built out of a diverse group of races from throughout the galaxy (the Borg having the greater reach of course), but by and large, humanoid.

As mentioned above, they were originally created to be cybernetic insects. Even when they first appeared in "Q Who," they were likely a single race that I think were only interested in assimilating technology. BoBW changed that.

-Both are built upon the oddly similar notion of "seeking out new life forms, and new civilizations", and by extension, the Collective/Federation and those new lifeforms/individuals mutually benefit from the encounter.

Everyone says that.

-Both expect the individual to assimilate to the environment/culture of the whole. With the Borg, this involves the implantation of Borg technology and connecting to the hive mind, so that a drone may fulfill the role the Collective has decided for them. Within Starfleet, assimilation involves wearing the uniform, embracing the ranked command structure, the obedience of rules and regulations, plus the expected performance of one's duties wherever Starfleet has determined they will serve.

This is every military. To a point, every society. The Borg are in part a warning about the danger of conformity vs. rebellion in society. The Federation is a society, and so it walks that line like all societies, but it's far from that, an example of an aspirational one.

 

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

The insidious Federation:

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[Spot261]

I like this theory. Being as the Borg have grown over time, I imagine that it wasn't the original intention, yet I see a lot of parallels.

The thing is, throughout TNG we actually see our heroes playing with a lot of the tech that could readily be used with good intentions and create a Borg-like future for the Federation, especially given a slight V-ger/Nomad esque twist on their ideals.

Perhaps that was what Q was really trying to warn them in his own way, less "beware the scary borg" so much as "behold your future if you don't take care"