Star Trek alien allegories

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

So we got the Borg for Communist Soviet Republic. What else?

[Yukaphile]

Actually, the Borg could be seen as technology absorbing us in the future. Like what happens if technology runs amok to the point we become mere slaves to it. Cybernetic attachments that are made to save you, neural uplinks to the internet, all that stuff.

I'm not even gonna bring up the alien race from "The Outcast," because they were so poorly conceived. In TOS, I saw the Klingons as Imperialist Russia and the USSR, but by TNG they had become a blend of Japanese Vikings. The Cardassians are Space Fascists. The Romulans are like a mix of the Chinese and the Romans.

[clearspira]

I agree with Yuka, the Borg are far more ''Metropolis'' than Soviet Russia regardless of what the original intent was.

As for the Outcast, I have a theory on this and it relates to another conversation we are having on another thread: back in the 20th century, sex and gender were often used interchangeably, whereas today, sex and gender have firm definitions when they are used. Sex is what your body physically is, gender is what is in your head.
I raise this because I think the J'Naii would have worked a lot better if instead of having no sex and gender period; they have sex but repressed gender. Everyone is one and the same regardless of genitals taken to an extreme degree (there are some in real life that want this state if being so it isn't all that unlikely). This would explain why there are people who have male and female gender identity in a species without sex if there were actually still males and females. Because as written they simply do not make sense. Why would a species without women have those that want to be women when it should be a completely alien concept to them.

TL;DR I think as an allegory they do work, just not as written and not as an allegory to homosexuality as was intended.

[Yukaphile]

Transhumanism and all that. But there is symbolism for communism and capitalism, as Chuck says. So it's a really well done alien race. At least at first...

You hit the nail on the head, clearspira.

Let's see, what's another Trek allegory race? Um... well, is it fair to see the UFP is a metaphor for the United States? Or is that just me seeing that?

[MissKittyFantastico]

None of them are wholly one thing or the other. During the occupation the Cardassians were pretty much the Nazis, but after the Klingons kicked the crap out of them they were more the Weimar Republic and the Dominion the Nazis in that relationship; under Dominion rule, especially later in the game, they felt more like Vichy France (and Damar's resistance the actual Maquis). The Bajorans likewise get a lot of the Jewish side of the holocaust in their history, but with religion so sparse among main casts and factions of any weight, the Bajorans were de facto any religion the writers wanted to tell a story about; 'In The Hands of the Prophets' frames Winn very much as American Christian in her side of the creationism debate they're doing there. 'The Undiscovered Country' couldn't have made the Klingon fall of the Soviet Union any clearer, while by TNG's time (made simultaneously) the Romulans had all the Cold War's brinksmanship and game-of-spies shenanigans and the Klingons has become the love child of Vikings and Samurai as filtered through a western pop-culture impression of both of those.

I remember reading that the Kazon - at least in the episode where Nog guest starred as a young Kazon - were supposed to be an allegory for black gang culture (which I believe they were also going at in 'The Abandoned' with the young Jem'Hadar), 'Kazon Ogla' seems to suggest somebody had Native Americans in mind when they were being drawn out to begin with, and I felt like the episode where they brought in the Trabe was trying to give the both of them an Israeli/Palestinian vibe, but being as how everything about the Kazon was pretty ham-fisted I don't know how much stock I'd put in any of that. The Ferengi were given an on-screen shoutout as Yankee Traders - naming them Ferengi always made me think somebody had the East India Company/British imperialism in Central Asia in mind too - but we all know how well their initial presentation turned out; mostly they're a caricature of capitalism (mind you that seems to be where we're at in reality as well, so I guess the Ferengi are a serious allegory at this point). Speaking of John Company it's not difficult to imagine somebody had them in mind with the Jem'Hadar (I mean, it's there in the name, again), the 'native' regiments led by Vorta/British officers, stereotypically only loyal to the distant crown and regarding their men with indifference or outright disdain.

The old Make It So podcast did an episode on who-represents-who that suggested the Vulcans were the British as seen from the point of view of late 20th Century US - cold, distant, politically friendly but in a very condescending sort of way. I wouldn't say that was ever necessarily intentional, but it is kind of amusing, especially in light of how well Picard gets on with the Vulcans (I know I know, he's 'French'...)

[Yukaphile]

The Cardassians could also be seen as US settlers. Or the Soviets during their conquest across Eastern Europe (I refuse to call that glorified blood orgy "liberation"). Don't be so narrow-minded. They were all equally bad, and there were decent people among them. As in real life, and as in the show - as Marritza proved. Hell, the rapes, torture, genocide, murder, colonization of Bajor? Is exactly what the USSR and we are also guilty of. The Bajorans could also be seen as Native Americans with their pseudo-spiritual beliefs. And you are aware it wasn't just Jews that were persecuted by the Nazis, yes?

[MissKittyFantastico]

And you are aware it wasn't just Jews that were persecuted by the Nazis, yes?

Yes, I am aware.

I'm not sure what made you think that little diatribe was called for, or relevant to the discussion, but I'd appreciate you taking a moment to consider your point could've been made without making it a personal attack.

[Yukaphile]

You're right. Sorry...

[Artabax]

Cardassi = Nazi
Bajor = Jew
Klingon Classic = Russia; Klingon TNG = Viking Samurai; Klingon DIS = Cardassi
Romulan Classic = inscrutable China therefore
Vulcan Classic = inscrutable Japan; Vulcan ENT = Traitors
Angel One = Amazons
Outcast = it is verboten to express your feminine side = Vatican city State
Control DIS = Skynet

[Yukaphile]

Cardassian = Soviet/American settlers/Nazi
Bajor = Eastern Europe/Native Americans/Ethnic minorities

Fixed it for ya. And what do you mean traitors? The Vatican city-state idea is pretty good, though.