Die Wirtschaft in STAR TREK. Eine populärkulturelle Verarbeitung von Karl Marx’ Vision eines »Reichs der Freiheit«?

Abstract

The article takes the claim that the economy of the Federation in Star Trek represents a pop-cultural reception of Karl Marx’s higher phase of communism as its starting point. This assertion will be put to test. In order to do this, Marx’s thoughts about the higher phase of communism as well as descriptions of Star Trek’s economy will be summarized as a first step. Since both the higher phase of communism and the Federation’s economy describe an economic state in which the basic material needs are met, they can both be conceived as material utopias. This is the common ground that explains why it makes sense to draw parallels between Marx and Star Trek. Subsequently, a typology of material utopias is presented. The central distinguishing feature between different kinds of material utopias is the recommended strategy to establish a state of frugality. Here, a striking difference becomes apparent: According to Marx, the higher phase of communism, depends on unleashing the productive forces, while Star Trek focuses on changing the people’s minds regarding economic matters. Therefore, Marx’s higher phase of communism should be regarded as a technical utopia, whereas the economy of the Federation is best considered to be an ethical utopia.Die