Galactic council outline

[Jo Zebedee]

Hi all, I am preparing to work at A Thing. It is a sequel and, in the first book, I have a structure not fully defined, which I'm now trying to flesh out. It is a galactic council which keeps the peace between two warring races. My premise was always that it was formed out of mutual need - without the GC the two races would have wiped each other out.

Here's what I have. Does it feel believable? What more do I need?

A neutral oversight group, drawn from both races under a mutual pact which allows their sovereignty over Galactic affairs to be recognised by both races.

Formed out of desperation because both races had fought each other to the point of civilisation collapse.

The council operates independently of either race’s planetary administrations
those serving have never set foot on either planet, which is perpetrated through the generations.
Any of them may return, post 16 years when service is granted, to their race’s planets, but they may not then return to their neutral GC role.

Both races provide a peacekeeping army, held under the GC's jurisdiction, with the understanding that this will be deployed in any breach of peace upheld by the GC.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Fair play @Jo Zebedee , the only thing I can think of would be some sort of code or motivation to keep the GC on the straight and narrow. Sort of an Asimov style rule dealie that the GC lads & lassies value above all else. Well done -you're flying this weather

 

[Wayne Mack]

Some questions that spring to mind that I would probably want to know as a reader:

• Are there only two races? If not, why aren't the other races involved?
• Are there settlements outside of the home planets? Can council members come from non-home planet settlements?
• Is the implication that the council members come from a breeding size population? Certainly sets up a Romeo and Juliet plot line.
• If there is a non-residency requirement, how was the initial council established?
• Is there a neutral zone that is the council's primary governing responsibility? How much authority does the Council have over each side's core planet(s)?
• Does each side also have a standing military in addition to its peace keeping force?

This sounds like an interesting configuration with lots of potential for intrigue. I can see a lot of potential ways to develop this situation into a novel and I am curious as to how some of my world building questions might be addressed.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Great points thanks both.
Some of your questions are addressed in Book one, Wayne but there are some things for me to strengthen there. The two races can’t breed, though, that’s for sure. But could they fall in love...? i think so and I love the idea of love and sex being separated. I’m not sure I’ll explore it here but will somewhere else

 

[Astro Pen]

Sound a little simplistic. I can't explain with real world examples or realpolitic because of the politics ban. But if you haven't got around to reading Machiavelli's The Prince it is well worth your time.
Unless your galactic council's army is at least as large and powerful as either of the two warring factions it isn't worth tuppence in terms of enforcement.

To take another tack, as well as having a military to attempt to keep the two races that hate each other from attacking, I would also have a joint committee to facilitate trade and mutually beneficial economic, maybe even cultural activity.
Things are better resolved by changing the relationship rather than simply keeping the factions apart.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Sound a little simplistic. I can't explain with real world examples or realpolitic because of the politics ban. But if you haven't got around to reading Machiavelli's The Prince it is well worth your time.
Unless your galactic council's army is at least as large and powerful as either of the two warring factions it isn't worth tuppence in terms of enforcement.
To take another tack, as well as having a military to keep the two races that hate each other I would also have a joint committee to facilitate trade and mutually beneficial economic, maybe even cultural activity.
Things are better resolved by changing the relationship rather than simply keeping the factions apart.

I think the politics ban wouldn’t include examples that might be useful for me to look at. I’ve read The Prince and yes, a good idea, I’ll include extended activities and governance. The flaw in the arrangement has always been the military power. I hope to address that this time - but the standing army must be considerable. And, of course, the GC is another pawn in the game that the others might target at the right time and Place.

 

[Vladd67]

This council's army would need to be impressive, a real world example of course is the UN's forces. Sadly these peacekeepers don't always work, the 22 Belgian troops murdered at the start of the Rwanda genocide spring to mind.

 

[Wayne Mack]

Perhaps instead of having an army, the Council would have a group of inspectors to preclude each side from weapons development and raising military forces? Having a Council army introduces the possibility of the Council becoming a third political power or it having to choose sides if a conflict between the original two planets arises. The world you are describing seems incredibly interesting and there are lots of potential approaches for you to explore. I look forward to seeing the result!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Perhaps instead of having an army, the Council would have a group of inspectors to preclude each side from weapons development and raising military forces? Having a Council army introduces the possibility of the Council becoming a third political power or it having to choose sides if a conflict between the original two planets arises. The world you are describing seems incredibly interesting and there are lots of potential approaches for you to explore. I look forward to seeing the result!

Also I've been a quality auditor for years, so actually know how that works....

 

[Swank]

The separation between the council population and the native population would almost certainly lead to accuasations that the council is out of touch or even subourned by the opposing society. Just as the UK wouldn't employ an ambassador.born and raised in Russia.

There is also the military problem. The UN military would be useless against any large power, and no society is likely to give up the vast majority of its military power to a party that might use it against them.


Consider self funding the council and a mercenary military.

 

[Toby Frost]

I wondered if the council military might be robots, to ensure loyalty (until some cunning person reprogrammes them!). There could be serious problems with the people going to their homeworlds after service to the council, as they might be seen as traitors (either literally or to their planet's traditions).

Overall, I think it could work, in the sense that it makes sense, but it would throw up problems that you'd have to acknowledge and could use as the basis of a story. I like Astro Pen's suggestion about non-military cultural activity. I think you have to accept that, assuming these guys think like humans, there will probably be a backlash to anything, even comparatively harmless projects. Some lunatic will probably try to blow up a peaceful "meet-and-greet" event designed to encourage peace, etc. I suspect that the nicer and more well-meaning the activities, the more the crazies would hate them.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I'm coming around to the concept of them largely being the auditory body that controls the mechanisms that safeguard peace.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

The separation between the council population and the native population would almost certainly lead to accuasations that the council is out of touch or even subourned by the opposing society. Just as the UK wouldn't employ an ambassador.born and raised in Russia.

There is also the military problem. The UN military would be useless against any large power, and no society is likely to give up the vast majority of its military power to a party that might use it against them.


Consider self funding the council and a mercenary military.

Sadly this is a sequel. I need to make the existing structure work. But I think this thread has steered me to where I need to be

 

[paranoid marvin]

Have you thought of both races being so annoyed with interference in their affairs that they join together to defeat the GC?

 

[Swank]

Sadly this is a sequel. I need to make the existing structure work. But I think this thread has steered me to where I need to be

Not suggesting re-writing the past. Just dealing with what you have.

It might make sense to have the GC set up as a self-sustaining impediment to either race's ramped up aggression. Like nuclear deterrence or Herbert's Bureau of Sabotage, a genie that can't be put back in the bottle. So the GC is linked to a powerful but solitary power/production/population source that frees them from influence by either empire, yet prevents the GC from becoming a full power themselves. Maybe they are based in some extinct alien race's factory planetoid, or have some leftover super weapons, or are in control of a hyperspace crossroads.

You can make that sort of thing work with what you already have.

 

[msstice]

<clippy>It looks like you are trying to create a League of Nations, United Nations, Galactic Council would you like some help?</clippy>

All United Nations Galactic Councils that work should look roughly the same. Two (or a few) very large powers that have decided that they won't mutually annihilate each other today, so to buy time, they set up this Council and fight low level proxy wars using lesser powers as pawns, to check for opponents weaknesses, until they feel they can kill the others off next week and have some survivors left. Any Galactic Council set up with a large number of similarly powerful factions will have devolved into a multi-way melee. (See African Union).

Sorry, were we doing dystopian or utopian? Let me switch out my cynic chip ... ah, ok ...

Galactic Council set up by well adjusted populations that were brought up by Strong Mothers and Sensitive Fathers: Round table, large bureaucracy that is the butt of all jokes, labyrinthine laws, stability over progress, entrenched interests, dynasties, lots of corruption, crony capitalism/socialism/communism.

Bad cynic chip, Bad cynic chip, I thought I turned you off.

Sorry, I'm always hyper when I'm sleep deprived. I don't know if this helps at all, but I suppose I have an adverse reaction to Arthur C. Clarke/Azimov/Star Trek style Galactic Councils and too much politics (e.g. 90% of The Expanse series) has me searching for fast-forward.

I would, however, read a story set against the backdrop of a Galactic Council that is seen as bureaucratic/annoying/sinister. This concept (of an annoying government) is sufficiently common, and realistic, that you might not have to get too much into detail about HOW the Council works. It is sufficient to have it as a foil to our heroes and is a rich source of conflict for the story.

I apologize again: instead of helping you I've been rambling on about how I would write a story with the words "Galactic Council" somewhere in its pages.

Perhaps I should try coffee. Now, when I drink coffee does that make it worse or better?

 

[chriscarlton]

I would say that any council established to mediate disputes like this needs to have a big-ass stick to wield. That 'stick' can be financial (UN) or militant (NATO), but in any case, power is always limited, and limitations are always more interesting than powers.
It doesn't necessarily seem super realistic that these two races would have set aside their differences for the sake of peace alone as that's essentially a loss for both parties.
So, you talk about a 'mutual need' but what does that actually look like? Peace itself is something that's brokered, not necessarily something that needs maintenance. I suggest expanding on that - What powers does this council have, why does it STILL exist, and what would happen if it dissolved? Who runs it, what's their benefit for running it, and beyond bureaucracy, what's the benefit to the people for this council to exist? How is it funded, and what do those funds do?
In summary, you can't really have three children break up their own fight - you need an adult. But what's keeping the adult there, and what do the kids fear when the adult isn't watching their every move anymore?
Hope that helps, I apologise if it's a bit incoherent! I would really love to help you with this, as politics and economy are huge passions of mine!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I would say that any council established to mediate disputes like this needs to have a big-ass stick to wield. That 'stick' can be financial (UN) or militant (NATO), but in any case, power is always limited, and limitations are always more interesting than powers.
It doesn't necessarily seem super realistic that these two races would have set aside their differences for the sake of peace alone as that's essentially a loss for both parties.
So, you talk about a 'mutual need' but what does that actually look like? Peace itself is something that's brokered, not necessarily something that needs maintenance. I suggest expanding on that - What powers does this council have, why does it STILL exist, and what would happen if it dissolved? Who runs it, what's their benefit for running it, and beyond bureaucracy, what's the benefit to the people for this council to exist? How is it funded, and what do those funds do?
In summary, you can't really have three children break up their own fight - you need an adult. But what's keeping the adult there, and what do the kids fear when the adult isn't watching their every move anymore?
Hope that helps, I apologise if it's a bit incoherent! I would really love to help you with this, as politics and economy are huge passions of mine!

That's very helpful, thank you

 

[Vladd67]

I can't remember the name of it, but I had a game back in the 90s or late 80s where you played as an independent observer in a satellite keeping the peace on earth. One of your tools was a UN style army you moved around the planet acting as peacekeepers, usually after two nations had signed a non aggression pact because you knew that meant war was coming.