An alliance of convenience between:
nationalists of different nationalities
militarists
industrialists
politicians
financiers
trade unionists
religionists
Syndics
Neocommunists
Pilgrims
Hedonists
people with individual grievances
It reads like the list of enemies of the Polesotechnic League in the Technic History.
I am not sure why all of these people are on this list. Some of them can prosper under the UN world government. For example, Naysmith says that:
"'There are labor leaders who want a return of the old strife which means power and profit for them.'" (VII, p. 54)
But there are big employers with many employees, therefore a role for trade union negotiators and bureaucrats, in the UN regime. On the other hand, some of the industrialists dislike regulation.
How to overthrow the UN world government:
agents of the gang within the UN will perpetrate corruption, inefficiency and illegality that will then be publicized;
embarrassing government secrets, like the assassination of the secessionist Chinese leader, will be leaked;
some nations will secede;
there will be military revolutions in key nations;
ground troops from a nearby colony will seize the Moon bases;
every Un-man will be hunted down;
a return to international anarchy, dictatorship and war.
(A Space Patrol unit tried to seize the Moon base in Robert Heinlein's Future History.)
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I wondered what the heck were Syndics and Hedonists!
Nor am I sure Anderson's scenario in this story was wholly plausible--which may have contributed to him becoming dissatisfied with the Psychotechnic series.
Happy New Year! Sean
Sean,
"Syndicalists" would be revolutionary trade unionists like the IWW. I am fairly sure there were Hedonists in the Technic History on Freehold.
Paul.
OTOH, Syndicalists, also called Anarcho-Syndicalists, would deffo not be part of such an alliance. Tubbies (trade union bureaucrats) might well be although, as I said, I think that Tubbies could be quite happy in the UN corporate state or whatever we call it. Strikes might be outlawed but some Tubbies would welcome that! The worst that can happen from their point of view is union members taken independent action and no longer being under Tubby control.
taking
Kaor, Paul!
I think I had more literal meanings for "syndic" in mind. The dictionary defined that firstly as a person authorized to transact business for a corporation, such as a university. Secondly, syndics could be civil magistrates in different countries with varying powers. But the more political definitions you gave are more likely in "Un-Man."
Yes, we see mention of Hedonists in "Outpost of Empire."
Happy New Year! Sean
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