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
2463 Views
I would be mostly okay with it if they abolished slavery first
- 23/01/2011 12:19:48 AM
1384 Views
Hopefully the Dragon's Peace (not the one Avi saw the effects of) those concerns. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 03:21:04 AM
651 Views
You mean utter anarchy and a dangerously stratified society?
- 23/01/2011 07:24:48 AM
1151 Views
The situation in Seanchan isn't that unique
- 23/01/2011 07:49:28 AM
1218 Views
there's tons of problems there, but 20+ leaders/royals killed? Disaster anywhere... *NM*
- 23/01/2011 11:38:57 AM
604 Views
Funny; Caemlyn's succession crises aren't nearly as bad. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 11:00:45 PM
589 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
613 Views
The anarchy is what happens in the absence of Seanchan power.
- 27/01/2011 01:10:56 PM
1207 Views
Yes. That is a flaw of Seanchan governance.
- 28/01/2011 01:54:00 AM
1068 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
1373 Views
Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 29/01/2011 02:09:05 AM
1076 Views
Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 29/01/2011 01:10:36 PM
1184 Views
Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 29/01/2011 10:02:27 PM
1002 Views
Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 30/01/2011 03:56:23 AM
1238 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
1196 Views
They treat channelers like DOGS! so, No. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 07:56:22 AM
589 Views
Dogs never broke the world or created Shadowspawn, so they have it coming *NM*
- 27/01/2011 01:07:32 PM
575 Views
The Pattern certainly has some plan or purpose for the Seanchan.
- 23/01/2011 10:59:33 AM
1260 Views
That's what's scary. In many ways, the Seanchan embody the goals of the Pattern
- 23/01/2011 11:41:35 PM
1078 Views
If we're going to personify things, we should be personifying the Wheel, not the Pattern.
- 24/01/2011 12:13:49 AM
1119 Views
I think it's interesting
- 24/01/2011 09:23:40 AM
1138 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
1020 Views
Um, no
- 23/01/2011 11:36:24 AM
1207 Views
look around you again
- 23/01/2011 03:24:01 PM
1199 Views
Seanchan equality before the law
- 23/01/2011 04:09:54 PM
1208 Views
Re: Seanchan equality before the law
- 23/01/2011 04:22:28 PM
1186 Views
a) most of that is your own extrapolation, not shown in the text
- 23/01/2011 04:56:14 PM
1142 Views
Mostly, yes.
- 23/01/2011 05:57:17 PM
1111 Views
Re: Mostly, yes.
- 23/01/2011 06:10:10 PM
1143 Views
I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 24/01/2011 08:04:21 PM
1243 Views
Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 25/01/2011 10:40:58 AM
1066 Views
Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 25/01/2011 05:55:13 PM
1065 Views
Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 26/01/2011 12:10:54 AM
1312 Views
"We" don't know of the One Power existing, so obviously it disappears. *NM*
- 26/01/2011 12:14:19 AM
605 Views
Lack of knowledge doesn't mean the One Power vanishes or is destroyed.
- 26/01/2011 04:03:22 PM
1058 Views
If OP still existed, you'd still have sparkers even "today". *NM*
- 26/01/2011 06:34:50 PM
581 Views