As civilisations go, the Seanchan one isn't the worst one to live in, as long as you aren't a channeler with the spark (0.01% of the population)
Yeah, just like Nazi Germany, as long as you aren't a jew, or a dissident.
(yes, yes, Godwin's law)
WWII Germany was trying to become an Empire, but unlike the Seanchan Empire, they took key decisions on a (seriously flawed) idealogical basis. The 'master race' crap meant that (i) they wasted time and resources attacking their own citizens, for ridiculous and arbitrary reasons, and so undermined their own strength; and (ii) they had to conquer and subdue every country they fought, unlike the Seanchan, who absorb the existing power structures and work through them.
The Seanchan empire is a totalitarian dictatorship, there's no glossing over that. But, arguably, so is every nation in Randland apart from Far Madding. In terms of how it treats it citizens, I'd argue Seanchan is better. Even damane and da'covale have a better life than a peasant farmer on the edge of ruin, or a dockworker in Tear strung up for looking the wrong way at a noble.
Seanchan Takeover of Randland
- 22/01/2011 11:25:36 PM
2561 Views
I would be mostly okay with it if they abolished slavery first
- 23/01/2011 12:19:48 AM
1470 Views
Hopefully the Dragon's Peace (not the one Avi saw the effects of) those concerns. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 03:21:04 AM
713 Views
You mean utter anarchy and a dangerously stratified society?
- 23/01/2011 07:24:48 AM
1241 Views
The situation in Seanchan isn't that unique
- 23/01/2011 07:49:28 AM
1318 Views
there's tons of problems there, but 20+ leaders/royals killed? Disaster anywhere... *NM*
- 23/01/2011 11:38:57 AM
655 Views
Funny; Caemlyn's succession crises aren't nearly as bad. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 11:00:45 PM
647 Views
Rand deserves some credit, he did get involved early and held the Lion Throne for Elayne. *NM*
- 24/01/2011 08:47:42 AM
664 Views
The anarchy is what happens in the absence of Seanchan power.
- 27/01/2011 01:10:56 PM
1362 Views
Yes. That is a flaw of Seanchan governance.
- 28/01/2011 01:54:00 AM
1166 Views
It's not the Empire's fault, and that flaw is not being duplicated in the wetlands
- 28/01/2011 11:24:00 PM
1467 Views
Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 29/01/2011 02:09:05 AM
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Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 29/01/2011 01:10:36 PM
1284 Views
Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 29/01/2011 10:02:27 PM
1102 Views
Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 30/01/2011 03:56:23 AM
1338 Views
It's like you don't even read anything when you post. My posts, the books themselves...
- 02/02/2011 06:41:10 PM
1297 Views
They treat channelers like DOGS! so, No. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 07:56:22 AM
641 Views
Dogs never broke the world or created Shadowspawn, so they have it coming *NM*
- 27/01/2011 01:07:32 PM
624 Views
The Pattern certainly has some plan or purpose for the Seanchan.
- 23/01/2011 10:59:33 AM
1375 Views
That's what's scary. In many ways, the Seanchan embody the goals of the Pattern
- 23/01/2011 11:41:35 PM
1176 Views
If we're going to personify things, we should be personifying the Wheel, not the Pattern.
- 24/01/2011 12:13:49 AM
1211 Views
I think it's interesting
- 24/01/2011 09:23:40 AM
1249 Views
Re: That's what's scary. In many ways, the Seanchan embody the goals of the Pattern
- 24/01/2011 12:38:38 PM
1111 Views
Um, no
- 23/01/2011 11:36:24 AM
1304 Views
look around you again
- 23/01/2011 03:24:01 PM
1296 Views
Seanchan equality before the law
- 23/01/2011 04:09:54 PM
1299 Views
Re: Seanchan equality before the law
- 23/01/2011 04:22:28 PM
1277 Views
a) most of that is your own extrapolation, not shown in the text
- 23/01/2011 04:56:14 PM
1237 Views
Mostly, yes.
- 23/01/2011 05:57:17 PM
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Re: Mostly, yes.
- 23/01/2011 06:10:10 PM
1246 Views
I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 24/01/2011 08:04:21 PM
1345 Views
Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 25/01/2011 10:40:58 AM
1164 Views
Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 25/01/2011 05:55:13 PM
1156 Views
Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 26/01/2011 12:10:54 AM
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"We" don't know of the One Power existing, so obviously it disappears. *NM*
- 26/01/2011 12:14:19 AM
660 Views
Lack of knowledge doesn't mean the One Power vanishes or is destroyed.
- 26/01/2011 04:03:22 PM
1150 Views
If OP still existed, you'd still have sparkers even "today". *NM*
- 26/01/2011 06:34:50 PM
630 Views