Bajor, The Federation, and the Prime Directive

[at Quark's]

From DS9, Emissary:

PICARD: <........ >I've come to know the Bajorans. I'm a strong proponents for their entry into the Federation.
SISKO: Is it going to happen?
PICARD: Not easily. The ruling parties are at each others throats. Factions that were united against the Cardassians have resumed old conflicts.
SISKO: Sounds like they're not ready.
PICARD: Your job is to do everything short of violating the Prime Directive to make sure that they are. <.......>

As far as I know, the Prime Directive means not interfering in the natural development of a civilization. Obviously, the Bajorans aren't pre-warp, so it doesn't mean 'no identification of self or mission'. But, what does it mean in this case? We see that 'the Sisko' becomes very interfering during DS9's run. Partly because he's forced in the 'emissary' role, partly by his own choice.

Yet, none of this seems to count as 'violating the Prime Directive'. When would he have 'crossed the line', so to speak?

 

[DonIago]

I rather think Sisko did a very good job of not interfering any more than he was asked to. He never asked to be named as Emissary, and never tried to impose his will upon the Bajoran people that I recall...I'm not even sure he ever offered Kai Winn any advice that she didn't ask him for first. Even during the Circle trilogy he makes sure DS9 stays largely out of it until they have evidence that the Cardassians are arming the Circle, and he only resists the Bajoran soldiers who board DS9 because he's buying time for Kira and Dax to get to the Chamber of Ministers.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Perhaps Picard's orders are boilerplate reminders - not necessarily applicable every time, but a good reminder nonetheless. The Miranda rights of admiral send-offs of captains.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

I know it's not your direct question, but I'm simply so annoyed with the concept of "The Prime Directive"... tightwad captains like Picard and Janeway preach and lecture about it yet break it all the time without mention... and then Picard stands by as a planet was about to be exterminated (as Worf's human brother protested) without batting an eye.

It's so inconsistently applied throughout the series that I can't take it seriously when it's brought up. I'm sure it was absolutely breeched with Bajor.. but hey, the Prime Directive Stalwarts (Picard and Janeway) break it at a moment's notice, so why bother thinking twice?

 

[The Wormhole]

As far as I know, the Prime Directive means not interfering in the natural development of a civilization. Obviously, the Bajorans aren't pre-warp, so it doesn't mean 'no identification of self or mission'. But, what does it mean in this case?

The Prime Directive also means do not interfere in a government's internal affairs.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I know it's not your direct question, but I'm simply so annoyed with the concept of "The Prime Directive"... tightwad captains like Picard and Janeway preach and lecture about it yet break it all the time without mention... and then Picard stands by as a planet was about to be exterminated (as Worf's human brother protested) without batting an eye.

I know what you mean. I think the Prime Directive is generally a good idea, but there are some episodes that take it way too far. It's especially dumb because there isn't one single 'the Prime Directive says we should let them all die' story where they actually let them all die, because it's blatantly the wrong thing to do. We know it, the characters know it, the writer knows it, Starfleet lets them get away with it... why are these episodes even claiming this should be a rule?

The way I see it, when it's used right the Prime Directive basically boils down to:

1. For cultures who aren't ready to join the galactic community, just leave them alone. Unless they need outside help to restart their natural development or save them from an extinction event or fix interference.

You can debate the positives and negatives of that approach, but at least it has positives! Doesn't really apply to Bajor though.

2. For cultures that are part of the galactic community, don't screw around with their own business any more than you have to (like Picard being Gowron's Arbiter of Succession and Sisko being the Emissary).

Sometimes this leads to situations like The Circle trilogy, where Sisko had to break the letter of the Prime Directive (get off Bajor's space station) in order to protect the spirit of it (prevent interference in Bajor's internal affairs). I think Sisko probably broke the Prime Directive by telling them not to join the Federation and to sign a treaty with the Dominion as well. But Starfleet doesn't want people who blindly follow orders without using their own head and TNG shows that you can cross the line, break the Prime Directive, and carry on commanding the most prestigious ship in the fleet without punishment as long as you can justify your actions.

 

[at Quark's]

I think Sisko probably broke the Prime Directive by telling them not to join the Federation and to sign a treaty with the Dominion as well. But Starfleet doesn't want people who blindly follow orders without using their own head and TNG shows that you can cross the line, break the Prime Directive, and carry on commanding the most prestigious ship in the fleet without punishment as long as you can justify your actions.

That would be a prime example, yes. And probably it was not just breaking the Prime Directive, but also defeating his entire reason for being there in the first place, in the eyes of Starfleet, at least. That is, if we have to take that Picard quote I gave at the beginning seriously.

Now of course, he says that he's sure 'Bajor will join the Federation one day', and also, in retrospect his action turned out to be correct, given the Dominion War that happened after that, but Starfleet couldn't be sure of either of those when these events happened in Rapture. So I would have expected at least a formal inquiry, and probably a court martial. Which never happened.

 

[DonIago]

How do we know Starfleet didn't approve his encouraging Bajor to sign the non-aggression pact? They surely knew they weren't in a position to effectively defend Bajor at the time.

But yes, it's kind of surprising that Sisko didn't get into trouble for his actions in "Rapture", but I think Starfleet probably felt their hands were a bit tied with him given that he was a prominent religious figure among the Bajorans.

 

[The Wormhole]

But yes, it's kind of surprising that Sisko didn't get into trouble for his actions in "Rapture", but I think Starfleet probably felt their hands were a bit tied with him given that he was a prominent religious figure among the Bajorans.

Admiral Whatley even says as much at the end of that episode.

 

[Nerys Myk]

From DS9, Emissary:



As far as I know, the Prime Directive means not interfering in the natural development of a civilization. Obviously, the Bajorans aren't pre-warp, so it doesn't mean 'no identification of self or mission'. But, what does it mean in this case? We see that 'the Sisko' becomes very interfering during DS9's run. Partly because he's forced in the 'emissary' role, partly by his own choice.

Yet, none of this seems to count as 'violating the Prime Directive'. When would he have 'crossed the line', so to speak?

It's more of a guideline.