I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: Sent on: 31-May-1994 09:57am
From: Alistair Langsford
LANGSFORD ALISTAIR
Dept: Information Services
Tel No:289 7870
TO: Remote Addressee ( _traveller@engrg.uwo.ca )
Subject: Definitions...
MY 2 CENTS ON FEUDAL TECHNOCRACY & THE SWORD WORLDS
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Reading Hans' and David's discussions on Sword Worlds government
prompted me to do some research. Here are my results.
TECHNOCRACY:
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n. Organisation and management of a county's industrial resources by
technical experts for the good of the whole community; Hence
technocrat, advocate of this.
(from the Concise Oxford Dictionary)
FEUDAL TECHNOCRACY:
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Government by specific individuals for those who agree to be
ruled. Relationships are based on the performance of technical
activities which are mutually beneficial.
(from TNE, p188).
This could be lots of things. However, it sounds like the feudal
system we all know from history/hollywood/fantasy role playing
could fit in with this.
CONCLUSION (IMO, of course 8-))
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One possible interpretation of a Feudal technocracy comes from
combining what we understand by the terms Feudal and Technocracy.
The Feudal bit is in fact just like the Feudal system we know from
history, with for example a King and his vassal Nobles (Dukes,
Marquis, Counts, Barons, Knights) each of which has his/her own
vassals who comprise the remainder of the population (e.g.
Upperclass, Middleclass, and Lowerclass). And of course Nobles may
also have lesser ranking Nobles as vassals, depending on your
version of the Feudal system.
Each Noble (including the King) has a staff (e.g. a council of
advisors supported by a 'civil service' or 'public service') to
assist in the administration of his domains. When it comes to
managing the industry within a noble's domain, the staff are
technical experts in that relevant technologies. This last is the
'technocracy' bit. The ruling classes believe in this method of
managing industry, which makes them technocrats. By analogy, the
practice would probably extend to the management of fields other
than those traditionally thought of as comprising 'industry'.
To me the above description seems to fit the term 'Feudal
Technocracy' better than David Johnsons *kieretsu* (sp?) model.
I don't know enough about *kieretsu* to say whether or not they
also fit the description. To me they sound like a better model for
Corporate governments.
So, what do people think? Comments welcome.
--
Alistair Langsford,
[email removed]