-Sandra Miesel, "Chronology of Technic Civilization" IN Poul Anderson, Rise of The Terran Empire (New York, 2011), pp. 663-672 AT p. 667.
For an alternative view of the Chronology, see here.
(i) Chunderban Desai expounds the theory (see also here) that many civilizations decline after making a wrong decision. For example:
"'Technic civilization started on that road when the Polesotechnic League changed from a mutual-aid organization of free entrepreneurs to a set of cartels. Tonight we are far along the way.'" (pp. 388-389)
Anderson does not summarize the Covenant of Alfzar as he does the Council of Hiawatha. However, the Terran refusal to take the Merseian threat seriously after the failure of detente must surely count as another wrong decision and major turning point?
6 comments:
Hi, Paul!
I'm not sure Sandra Miesel is correct about the Covenant of Alfzar. Here is what Commander Abrams said in Chapter 14 during the altercation he and Lord Hauksberg had with the Merseian Protector Brechdan Ironrede: "Point of law, Hand. By the Covenant of Alfzar Merseia confirmed her acceptance of the rules of war and diplomacy which evolved on Terra. They evolved, and you took them over, for the excellent reason that they work. Now if you wish to declare us personae non gratae and deport us, his Majesty's government will have no grounds for complaint. But taking any other action against any one of us, no matter what the source of our accreditation, is grounds for breaking off relations, if not for war."
Btw, given your interest in how Latin was still used in the Technic History, take note of Commander Abrams use of Latin! (Smiles)
Sean
Therefore, I would argue that the Covenant of Alfzar was a treaty by which the major civilized interstellar powers agreed on both how they would conduct war and diplomatic relations among themselves. The Covenant would be precisely comparable to both the Geneva Conventions on the laws of war and the Vienna Convention regulating how diplomacy would be conducted.
Sean,
Thank you for your continued comments. Are you in Hawaii by now?
Paul.
Hi, Paul!
No, not yet! I leave very early Saturday morning, East coast US time, on the 20th.
And I won't be certain I'll be able to comment here while in Hawaii. I may have to wait till I come home after January 4.
What did you of what I quoted about the Covenant of Alfzar? My view, as you know, is that treaty was based on the Geneva and Vienna conventions, as modified to suit different races and for being used on an interstellar scale.
Sean
Drat! I meant Chapter 14 of ENSIGN FLANDRY. I'm sure Paul recognizes the text I quoted, but other readers might not have, hence this clarification.
Sean
Sean,
I think you are right about Alfzar. It served its purpose in regulating interspecies diplomacy. It did not and could not have pacified the Merseians but it was not intended to do that so Miesel should not have said that it failed.
Paul.
Hi, Paul!
Thanks! Alas, I have to conclude some of Miesel's annalistic notes to her Chronology were too hastily written, hence the error we saw in her commen about the Covenant. To say nothing of course, of how I was not satisfied with all of her proposed dates in the Chronology--and proposed a suggested revision of it.
Sean
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