.
Star Trek Beyond—the newest installment of the franchise’s third reboot—has grossed over $95 million thus far. Star Trek’s storied history over the last half century has inspired generations of young scientists to journey deeper into the final frontier. But the cultural impact of Star Trek need not be limited to space exploration: this franchise’s depiction of interplanetary diplomacy is not as alien as it seems. Perhaps, like Spock learning from his future, alternate reality self, we can learn from Star Trek how to act propitiously in diplomatic relations. Regardless, we boldly go where no man has gone before.
Mr. Spock: Logic and Instinct
The film was dedicated to the memory of the late Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock in The Original Series. Spock’s Human-Vulcan heritage underscores much of his character: he must decide between the Vulcan practice of Kolinahr—through which all emotion is shed, thereby making him a creature of pure logic—and the human practice of embracing one’s emotions and intuitions to make decisions. Likewise, diplomatic relations is an adventure in both carefully crafted, presumably reasonable, great power politics and genuine interpersonal connections.
When Bush looked into Putin’s eyes and saw a trustworthy man, he was not using Kolinahr. Putin’s 2008 campaign in Georgia—and subsequent actions—have reinforced what logic would have presupposed: that his background with the KGB and his rise to power during the Second Chechen War made him an untrustworthy, militaristic leader.
Nonetheless, logic is not always the answer. When President Obama drew the infamous “Red Line” in Syria, and Assad crossed that line by using chemical weapons, the most logical response would have been for him to carry out the planned strike. But when British Prime Minister David Cameron phoned President Obama, saying that he did not have the support of Parliament and would not aid in the attack, he began to reconsider his position. In Jeffrey Goldberg’s seminal article in The Atlantic entitled “The Obama Doctrine,” the President noted that in breaking with the Washington playbook he was able to do “something without war that could not be achieved with war,” namely, to remove the chemical weapons; what is more, his change of course avoided the inevitable escalation of conflict that would have resulted in another war in the Middle East. Eventually, Obama and John Kerry were able to make a deal with Russia in which most of Syria’s chemical weapons were removed. The debate over the damage to US credibility continues, but in this author’s humble opinion, Obama’s choice to sacrifice himself on the altar of public opinion for the greater good of the nation was heroic. One can surely imagine Captain Kirk doing such a thing.
Lieutenant Worf: People to People Diplomacy
To get the novice Trekkie up to speed, here is a brief history. Lieutenant Worf, portrayed by Michael Dorn in The Next Generation series, is the only Klingon in Starfleet. Traditionally the enemies of the United Federation of Planets, the Klingons resolved to make peace in 2344, after seeing the courage of the U.S.S. Enterprise-C in the Battle of Narendra III (recall Yesterday’s Enterprise episode in season 3). The duality of Lieutenant Worf is evident in his attire. Although he wears the traditional Starfleet yellow uniform for his rank, he also wears a traditional Klingon baldric over his shoulder. When he was a child, the Romulans wiped out his family at the Khitomer Outpost along their border. He was soon adopted by Chief Sergey Rozhenko, a human engineer who was among those providing assistance at the scene. He later went on to go to Starfleet Academy, eventually joining Captain Picard’s U.S.S. Enterprise and gaining a series of promotions to become a security lieutenant in the operations division. As is characteristic of a Klingon, he is first and foremost a warrior.
Lieutenant Worf’s ability to mediate conflict between the Federation and the Klingon empire when it inevitably results is invaluable. Worf acts on behalf of the Federation because he has seen its workings, and knows them to be pure. His experience firsthand developed his opinion of Starfleet, not Klingon propaganda, or perpetual warmongering. This strategy works back home too. In 1985, a chemical engineer came to the United States as part of a Chinese delegation to study American agriculture, staying in Muscatine, Iowa with a host family provided by Sister Cities International. That man was Xi Jinping. When he returned in 2012, he signed a $4.3 billion agreement to buy soybeans from Iowa farmers and, during a speech he gave in Des Moines before he left, Jinping said the following: “When I think of America, I think of my host family.” Has that made him a pawn for America? Of course not. Under his direction the Chinese government has made moves in the South China Sea that the United States finds disconcerting, for example. Like Lieutenant Worf, who temporarily resigned from Starfleet to participate in the Klingon Civil War (TNG episodes: “Redemption,” “Redemption, Part II”), President Xi Jinping would never betray the interests of his own people for another race. But the impact of being a part of the American experiment—if only for a few years—has put faces on the foreigners, giving him the tacit understanding that any aggression towards America is an aggression towards his host family, whom he admires. That must be worth something.
Us and Them: After All We’re Only Ordinary Men
Star Trek has been noted for its personnel choices. Nyota Uhura was one of the first characters of African descent to be featured in a non-menial role on an American television series; Hikaru Sulu, an Asian character, symbolized the peace of the Trek universe in spite of the concurrent Vietnam War on the continent; and the Russian Pavel Chekov was the Enterprise’s navigator in the height of the Cold War. In the future, humanity seems to have overcome its differences and learned to work together. Yet the narrative of the franchise shows that racial tensions have not been eliminated entirely: there are still those outside the Federation to malign.
In the “Balance of Terror” episode of The Original Series (season 1, episode 15), the Enterprise battles a Romulan ship suspected of destroying outposts near the Neutral Zone. As explained by Spock, the Romulan Neutral Zone was put into place after the Earth-Romulan War had been resolved, over a century ago. At that time, there were not even two-way visual communications (see Star Trek Technology article by Danika Li), so neither side knows what the other looks like. When it is discovered that they resemble Vulcans, Stiles comments that there may be spies aboard, a comment clearly aimed at Mr. Spock. Kirk rebukes him: "Leave any bigotry in your quarters. There's no room for it on the bridge." Captain Kirk then elects to follow them back to the Neutral Zone on a parallel course—so that they will appear to be an echo of the Romulan invisibility shield and will maintain the element of surprise—but they are detected. After a series of volleys, maneuvering, and other cunning tactics, each commander begins to respect the other’s intelligence. As it became clear that the Enterprise would be the victor, Captain Kirk offered to beam up any survivors. Responding that it is not the Romulan way and beginning his ship’s self destruct mechanism, the commander says, with admiration, “...You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend." Having been saved by Spock during the fight, Stiles also admits his mistake and thanks him.
Racism and senseless violence go hand in hand: with one comes the other. The amiable encounter between the ship’s captains harks back to the Christmas truce along the Western Front in 1914. Pitted against each other by their countries, these men were not altogether different. In the weeks leading up to the holiday, soldiers ventured into no man’s land to play football, barter for cigarettes, and sing carols: it was a symbolic moment of peace and humanity amidst one of the most devastating events in history. Many of these men could have been friends had they been born behind a different border. Fraternization is antithetical to war because it humanizes the enemy, and invades the mind with doubt when one should have none. By the end of the Great War—after the use of poison gas, and the death of over 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians—the two sides were no longer fraternizing, and even peace could not prevent their mutual hatred for one another, which ultimately led to an even more destructive conflict.
The Star Trek franchise has been a mainstay of American culture since its inception by Gene Roddenberry in 1966, fifty years ago. It has charmed and inspired, thrilled and questioned. It has taught countless lessons to generations of avid fans and casual watchers alike. One might as well join them. Resistance would be futile.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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Star Trek Diplomacy
August 8, 2016
Star Trek Beyond—the newest installment of the franchise’s third reboot—has grossed over $95 million thus far. Star Trek’s storied history over the last half century has inspired generations of young scientists to journey deeper into the final frontier. But the cultural impact of Star Trek need not be limited to space exploration: this franchise’s depiction of interplanetary diplomacy is not as alien as it seems. Perhaps, like Spock learning from his future, alternate reality self, we can learn from Star Trek how to act propitiously in diplomatic relations. Regardless, we boldly go where no man has gone before.
Mr. Spock: Logic and Instinct
The film was dedicated to the memory of the late Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock in The Original Series. Spock’s Human-Vulcan heritage underscores much of his character: he must decide between the Vulcan practice of Kolinahr—through which all emotion is shed, thereby making him a creature of pure logic—and the human practice of embracing one’s emotions and intuitions to make decisions. Likewise, diplomatic relations is an adventure in both carefully crafted, presumably reasonable, great power politics and genuine interpersonal connections.
When Bush looked into Putin’s eyes and saw a trustworthy man, he was not using Kolinahr. Putin’s 2008 campaign in Georgia—and subsequent actions—have reinforced what logic would have presupposed: that his background with the KGB and his rise to power during the Second Chechen War made him an untrustworthy, militaristic leader.
Nonetheless, logic is not always the answer. When President Obama drew the infamous “Red Line” in Syria, and Assad crossed that line by using chemical weapons, the most logical response would have been for him to carry out the planned strike. But when British Prime Minister David Cameron phoned President Obama, saying that he did not have the support of Parliament and would not aid in the attack, he began to reconsider his position. In Jeffrey Goldberg’s seminal article in The Atlantic entitled “The Obama Doctrine,” the President noted that in breaking with the Washington playbook he was able to do “something without war that could not be achieved with war,” namely, to remove the chemical weapons; what is more, his change of course avoided the inevitable escalation of conflict that would have resulted in another war in the Middle East. Eventually, Obama and John Kerry were able to make a deal with Russia in which most of Syria’s chemical weapons were removed. The debate over the damage to US credibility continues, but in this author’s humble opinion, Obama’s choice to sacrifice himself on the altar of public opinion for the greater good of the nation was heroic. One can surely imagine Captain Kirk doing such a thing.
Lieutenant Worf: People to People Diplomacy
To get the novice Trekkie up to speed, here is a brief history. Lieutenant Worf, portrayed by Michael Dorn in The Next Generation series, is the only Klingon in Starfleet. Traditionally the enemies of the United Federation of Planets, the Klingons resolved to make peace in 2344, after seeing the courage of the U.S.S. Enterprise-C in the Battle of Narendra III (recall Yesterday’s Enterprise episode in season 3). The duality of Lieutenant Worf is evident in his attire. Although he wears the traditional Starfleet yellow uniform for his rank, he also wears a traditional Klingon baldric over his shoulder. When he was a child, the Romulans wiped out his family at the Khitomer Outpost along their border. He was soon adopted by Chief Sergey Rozhenko, a human engineer who was among those providing assistance at the scene. He later went on to go to Starfleet Academy, eventually joining Captain Picard’s U.S.S. Enterprise and gaining a series of promotions to become a security lieutenant in the operations division. As is characteristic of a Klingon, he is first and foremost a warrior.
Lieutenant Worf’s ability to mediate conflict between the Federation and the Klingon empire when it inevitably results is invaluable. Worf acts on behalf of the Federation because he has seen its workings, and knows them to be pure. His experience firsthand developed his opinion of Starfleet, not Klingon propaganda, or perpetual warmongering. This strategy works back home too. In 1985, a chemical engineer came to the United States as part of a Chinese delegation to study American agriculture, staying in Muscatine, Iowa with a host family provided by Sister Cities International. That man was Xi Jinping. When he returned in 2012, he signed a $4.3 billion agreement to buy soybeans from Iowa farmers and, during a speech he gave in Des Moines before he left, Jinping said the following: “When I think of America, I think of my host family.” Has that made him a pawn for America? Of course not. Under his direction the Chinese government has made moves in the South China Sea that the United States finds disconcerting, for example. Like Lieutenant Worf, who temporarily resigned from Starfleet to participate in the Klingon Civil War (TNG episodes: “Redemption,” “Redemption, Part II”), President Xi Jinping would never betray the interests of his own people for another race. But the impact of being a part of the American experiment—if only for a few years—has put faces on the foreigners, giving him the tacit understanding that any aggression towards America is an aggression towards his host family, whom he admires. That must be worth something.
Us and Them: After All We’re Only Ordinary Men
Star Trek has been noted for its personnel choices. Nyota Uhura was one of the first characters of African descent to be featured in a non-menial role on an American television series; Hikaru Sulu, an Asian character, symbolized the peace of the Trek universe in spite of the concurrent Vietnam War on the continent; and the Russian Pavel Chekov was the Enterprise’s navigator in the height of the Cold War. In the future, humanity seems to have overcome its differences and learned to work together. Yet the narrative of the franchise shows that racial tensions have not been eliminated entirely: there are still those outside the Federation to malign.
In the “Balance of Terror” episode of The Original Series (season 1, episode 15), the Enterprise battles a Romulan ship suspected of destroying outposts near the Neutral Zone. As explained by Spock, the Romulan Neutral Zone was put into place after the Earth-Romulan War had been resolved, over a century ago. At that time, there were not even two-way visual communications (see Star Trek Technology article by Danika Li), so neither side knows what the other looks like. When it is discovered that they resemble Vulcans, Stiles comments that there may be spies aboard, a comment clearly aimed at Mr. Spock. Kirk rebukes him: "Leave any bigotry in your quarters. There's no room for it on the bridge." Captain Kirk then elects to follow them back to the Neutral Zone on a parallel course—so that they will appear to be an echo of the Romulan invisibility shield and will maintain the element of surprise—but they are detected. After a series of volleys, maneuvering, and other cunning tactics, each commander begins to respect the other’s intelligence. As it became clear that the Enterprise would be the victor, Captain Kirk offered to beam up any survivors. Responding that it is not the Romulan way and beginning his ship’s self destruct mechanism, the commander says, with admiration, “...You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend." Having been saved by Spock during the fight, Stiles also admits his mistake and thanks him.
Racism and senseless violence go hand in hand: with one comes the other. The amiable encounter between the ship’s captains harks back to the Christmas truce along the Western Front in 1914. Pitted against each other by their countries, these men were not altogether different. In the weeks leading up to the holiday, soldiers ventured into no man’s land to play football, barter for cigarettes, and sing carols: it was a symbolic moment of peace and humanity amidst one of the most devastating events in history. Many of these men could have been friends had they been born behind a different border. Fraternization is antithetical to war because it humanizes the enemy, and invades the mind with doubt when one should have none. By the end of the Great War—after the use of poison gas, and the death of over 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians—the two sides were no longer fraternizing, and even peace could not prevent their mutual hatred for one another, which ultimately led to an even more destructive conflict.
The Star Trek franchise has been a mainstay of American culture since its inception by Gene Roddenberry in 1966, fifty years ago. It has charmed and inspired, thrilled and questioned. It has taught countless lessons to generations of avid fans and casual watchers alike. One might as well join them. Resistance would be futile.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
