Prime Directive

In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Prime Directive, Starfleet's General Order #1, is the most prominent guiding principle of the United Federation of Planets. The Prime Directive dictates that there be no interference with the natural development of any primitive society, chiefly meaning that no primitive culture can be given or exposed to any information regarding advanced technology or alien races. It also forbids any effort to improve or change in any way the natural course of such a society, even if that change is well-intentioned and kept totally secret. "Primitive" is defined as any culture which has not yet attained warp drive. Starfleet allows scientific missions to investigate and move amongst pre-warp civilizations as long as no advanced technology is left behind, and there is no interference with events or no revelation of their identity.

Implications

The concept of non-interference can be seen to prevent foreign contamination of native unique language and customs. On the other hand, dedication to non-interference has been shown to go beyond this. The dedication is such that by 2364 Starfleet had allowed six races to die out.

Related Topics:
Language - Customs

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In at least one case (TOS episode 'A Private Little War'), where two different factions of one race were at war with each other, the Prime Directive had been interpreted to mean that neither side could have an advantage, that there had to be a balance of power. With this race, when it was found that Klingons were furnishing one portion of the race with advanced weapons, Kirk responded by arming the other faction with the exact same weapons. This resulted in an arms race on that world, and was seen as a fictionalized parallel to the Cold War arms race then going on in which the United States often armed one side of a dispute and the Soviet Union responded by arming the other.

Related Topics:
Klingon - Cold War - United States - Soviet Union

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On a planet that had two indigenous sentient species, the more advanced one was suffering from a degenerative genetic disorder. A cure was not pursued because it was determined that the more advanced species was genetically stagnant, and that the lesser one was genetically progressive. It was viewed as contrary to nature to help the dying race. Despite the fact that this event took place in the series ', before the formation of both the Federation and the Prime Directive, it reflects the views of space-faring humans and their allies in the years leading up to the creation of the Federation (ENT episode "Dear Doctor").

Related Topics:
Planet - Sentient - Species

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In another case, a starship stood by and watched as the loss of a planet's atmosphere was about to wipe out the last remaining members of a primitive civilization, rather than interfere to save their lives (TNG episode "Homeward"). However, the Federation observer refused to stand by, and violated the Prime Directive by saving a small group of that civilization.

Related Topics:
Starship - Civilization - Homeward

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There are different conclusions as to the purpose of non-interference. One is that the ends do not justify the means. No matter how well-intentioned, stepping in and effecting change could have disastrous consequences. Another conclusion (strongly implied in the ENT episode "Dear Doctor") is a belief that evolution has a 'plan' of sorts, driving species toward purposes. Interference would therefore be unnatural, in that it would go against what is supposed to happen to the species in question.

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Some may see the Prime Directive as a negative policy, because it prevents introduction of technology (especially medical technology), culture, and resources that may improve quality of life. It also has been considered an attitude of moral cowardice by the Federation — that the Prime Directive gives the Federation an excuse not to act. During the brutal Cardassian occupation of Bajor in the early 24th century, the Federation refused to act on the grounds that the occupation was an internal matter of the Cardassian government and to help the Bajorans would violate the Prime Directive. Many Bajorans resented the Federation for years after the occupation because of this attitude. Those in favor of the Prime Directive have said that no one has the right to impose their own standards on others and it is hardly moral cowardice to keep to a difficult, but ultimately beneficial principle in the face of temptation. However, recent archeaological evidence (DS9 episode "Explorers") has proven that the Bajorans were indeed capable of interstellar travel before the Cardassians were, using solar-sail vessels; the Prime Directive only prevents action against pre-warp cultures.

Related Topics:
Cardassian - Bajor - 24th century - Bajoran

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However one complaint regarding the Prime Directive is valid and cannot be refuted or contested - it is inconsistently applied. For example if a planet is strategically important to the Federation then a Captain can be ordered to break the Prime Directive. Kirk did this with the Federation's blessing to the Eminians ("A Taste of Armagedon"), the Organians ("Errand of Mercy"), the Capellans ("Friday's Child"), to both the Elasans and Troyians ("Elaan of Troyius"), the Merakians ("The Cloudminders") and the Yonadains ("For the World is Hollow and I have Touched the Sky"). Picard does the same thing in "Loud as a Whisper".

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Things get worst when you compare Kirk to Picard and how their Federations see the Prime Directive, For example Kirk and his crew go to save a planet and stay within the Prime Directive in "The Paradise Syndrome" and yet only after Data has possibly violated the Prime Directive does Picard do anything to save the people of Drema IV in "Pen Pals". In the case of the Organians and Capellans Kirk even makes an offer of medicine and teachers - something Picard refused to do on more than one occation.

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