Cheap manufacturing because of:
automation
mineral wealth in the Solar System
Cheap energy because of:
small, clean, simple fusion units
Galactic exploitation and an exodus from Earth because of:
gravitics, leading to -
hyperdrive
No interstellar political union because:
distances too vast
cultural differences between intelligent species
Not much armed conflict because:
the risk of destruction
little to fight about
Interstellar trade because:
colonies want the luxuries of home
home wants colonial products
the older civilizations have much to exchange
imports are cheaper than synthetics or substitutes
Competing companies cooperate to:
identify mutual interests
form alliances
negotiate spheres of influence
arbitrate disputes
unite against governments
Governments
rule at most a few planetary systems
cannot control the merchants
are bribed
are coerced
despair
abandon the struggle
The Polesotechnic League:
is a loose supergovernment
sprawls from Canopus to Deneb
represents and employs beings of maybe a thousand species
cuts across political and cultural boundaries
sets policies
makes treaties
establishes bases
fights battles
milks the Milky Way
spreads a universal civilization
enforces a Pax
has its troubles
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
The current generation of nuclear power plants, focusing on small modular plants, may be a step on the way to small, cheap, simple fusion plants.
The chaos of the Time of Troubles would change people's minds about the practicality of large interstellar realms! Hence the rise of the Empire, the Domain, and the Roidhunate.
Ad astra! Sean
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