Probably because a LOT of thier neighbors are Expansionist empires with few scruples about the use of violence to achieve thier aims?
Sure. But, there again, it's not like the Federation is averse to the idea of expansionism, either. One of their driving goals, after all, is to create new Federation colonies on uninhabited worlds, to constantly spread out and expand their territory, and to persuade other civilizations to join theirs.
Yes, the Federation is built on the idea of
peaceful expansion, peaceful persuasion, and mutual partnership amongst its members, but do you see where to a foreign state that is unwilling to relinquish its independence, the Federation's actions might seem threatening, or even downright hostile?
Probably because a LOT of thier neighbors are Expansionist empires with few scruples about the use of violence to achieve thier aims?
Except in the TOS era; the Federation's 'scruples' are 'as needed. Want proof?
TOS Episode:
Errand of Mercy - Once a Klingon/Federation war has started; Kirk and Co, are ordered to
Organia (which Federation records show is inhabited by a primitive culture that WOULD fall under the
Prime Directive under normal circumstances); with orders to either secure the planet as a base of operations for Federation forces; OR prevent it as being used as a base by the Klingon Empire. Here the
Prime Directive is nullified.
TOS Episode:
Friday's Child - Do you think the
Ten Tribes of Capella IV (who had a level of technology akin to the Dark Ages of Earth's past) would have been contacted and informed that there were 'Poeple from the other lights in the sky', if they didn't have an abundance of a mineral that BOTH the Klingon and Federation need to further their goals?
To be fair, the issue of whether or not the Federation is willing to contact and be honest about its origins to pre-warp cultures that have already been contacted and/or informed of the existence of aliens is unestablished. I haven't seen either "Errand of Mercy" or "Friday's Child" in forever, but is it not possible that perhaps Federation law allows the UFP to contact pre-warp civilizations that already know about aliens, and that Federation records indicated that both the Capellans and Organians had already been contacted by alien worlds?
Amazing how the hige and mighty StarFleet Prime Directive - which a Starship Captain will sacrifice himself, his ship, and his crew if needed rather than violate goes out the proverbial window (with Federation approval too), because a primative culture has something the Federation needs.
<SNIP>
But again, my point - in the 23rd century; the Federation was at times, just as unscrupulous as its nighboring star nations.
I don't know that
that's fair. The UFP certainly has never been depicted as engaging in conquest, aggressive war, or oppression. But, your point that the Federation is not a utopia and is not morally perfect is completely fair -- and very realistic.
Societies are made of people, and people are not and will never be perfect -- because there is no such thing as perfect. There are just people, and if they're good people, then they're trying to do their best, and that's all you can ever ask of anybody.
The Federation is not and has never been utopian. It
is, however, a better society, one that is more committed to the principles of liberal democracy, than those that exist today.
