In Poul Anderson's Technic History, on the planets Diomedes, Dennitza, Aeneas, Altai and Nyanza, resistance to Terran rule is cynically manipulated by Terra's imperialist rival, Merseia. When Kossara Vymezal thinks that she is rejoining fellow rebels, she finds that she is merely a prisoner and potential pawn of Merseian agents. Dominic Flandry, whom she had seen as an oppressor, suddenly becomes her liberator. When the leader of the Aenean resistance learns the truth, he has nowhere to turn but to the Terran High Commissioner on Aeneas. Is this a simplistic view of resistance movements? It would be if Poul Anderson did not also tell us a different story. First, some of the grievances are legitimate. Secondly, much of the unrest is entirely independent of Merseian influence. Thirdly, on Freehold and Avalon, opposition to Terra is successful and, in these cases, Anderson's readers sympathize with the anti-Terran cause. Future history can reflect the complexity and ambiguity of real history.
1 comment:
"Sacro egoismo" nationalist causes can lead to some very strange alliances -- which work out for the weaker party only if they're very lucky.
Eg., Irish nationalists accepting German help in 1914-18 (or French, during the Napoleonic Wars).
This didn't prove an utter disaster only because the British won both those wars. If Napoleonic France or Imperial Germany had won... well, ask the Belgians about that, or the Poles.
Leading to squalid absurdities like de Valera sending an official condolence message to the German embassy in Dublin in 1945 on the death of Hitler.
Those resistance movements manipulated by the Mersians in the Technic History are similar.
"Be careful what you wish for, you may get it" is a useful maxim to keep in mind.
So is the one that often your only choice is a choice of masters.
Ask a Pole about that one. There's a reason countries like Estonia were so eager to join NATO, and why the Ukrainians desperately want to join too.
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