Secessionist Movements

[ghosty]

The Vulcans have their Isolationist Movement and I'm sure in the wake of the Dominion War, many member worlds are feeling that the Federation may not be able to "protect" them and feel that they want to go their own way.

The question is: what would be the Federation's attitude if say Betazed declared that they would be seceding from the Federation and would be going their own way.

[Captain Zymmer]

I guess it all depends on the legality of such an action as per the Constitution of the UFP.

In America only 2 states (IIRC) can legally leave the UNion by referendumm. In Canada, while we keep going on about it, we aren't even sure of the legality of it.

So I imagine a referendumm would have to be held and if the majority of the population wants to go, then away they go.

The hard part is figuring out what makes for a majority in this situations, as any Canadian can tell you

[First of Two]

Diane Duane did something very much like this in her novel "Spock's World."

[qerlin]

Originally posted by ghosty
The Vulcans have their Isolationist Movement and I'm sure in the wake of the Dominion War, many member worlds are feeling that the Federation may not be able to "protect" them and feel that they want to go their own way.

The question is: what would be the Federation's attitude if say Betazed declared that they would be seceding from the Federation and would be going their own way.

LOve it, Ghosty -- we've been grappling with that in our campaign.

Several world have seceded for that reason; the UFP can't protect them & it too big a target. Most of the worlds were in protectorate or admission status & withdrawn their applications, but Benzar, Betazed, and a few other worlds have withdrawn, as well.

The UFP allows for popular will, so if the worlds hold a vote to withdraw, their desire is respected. But in the case of Benzar, in our campaign, it was actually a coup d'etat that tried to withdraw. The Fed went in to straighten things out.

Essentially, as more worlds withdraw, I see more desperation and more desire to stop the flow.

As for the Vulcans, in our campaign there is a perception that they imposed most of their ideals and laws onto the UFP charter; there's a distrust by the other member worlds because (in our campaign) the Vulcans have one of the lowest member population, yet have the greatest influence in the law and hold a majority of top slots in the cabinet and in Starfleet...more from attrition of other people, due to their long lifespans. (I'll admit it...I like the Enterprise portrayal of the Vulcans & I'm using it...)

Also, I would think that the capitalist forces -- Orions, Ferengi, (I include the Klingons), as forces looking to topple the socialist system of the Federation. They are constantly working behind the scenes to weaken the Fed. (The Klingons don't want a collapse of teh UFP, just an opening of markets...) They would play on cultural differences, prejudices, and particular desires to break the Fed's cohesiveness.

Right now, the characters are on a flag-waving tour of the Fed to try and stabilize the member worlds. There's a big push for major changes in the UFP charter. It should be interesting to see if the characters can influence things...

[ghosty]

An interesting curve ball will be for the Federation to refer the issue of secession to the Supreme Court which hands down a ruling that secession is illegal...you can't leave the Federation just by voting for it...remember 1861...so will Starfleet, the loyal defenders of the Federation and its ideals, when called upon to enforce the law go against the popular will of the seceeding states, will some local commander fire on a Starfleet facility (ala Fort Sumter) and spark a civil war within the Federation...all very interesting...

[Lancer]

I am not sure if you are not using the USA (and the American Civil War) too much as a basis here.

As I see it the Federation is not so much a federal government, but a mutual defense pact and economic treaty, something of a mix between todays USA and the UN.

In so far the major problem with secession would not be getting out in the first place, but the loss of benefits.
A world that gets out of the Federation has no legal claim to protection by Starfleet or the services of the Federation Merchant Marine. If a planetary government realy thinks the Feds don't do enough to protect them the smart move IMHO would be to strengthen your own defense forces while staying in the Federation.

These are of course only my 0.02$ worth on the matter and as always you are certainly free to disagree.