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
2372 Views
I would be mostly okay with it if they abolished slavery first
- 23/01/2011 12:19:48 AM
1299 Views
Hopefully the Dragon's Peace (not the one Avi saw the effects of) those concerns. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 03:21:04 AM
611 Views
You mean utter anarchy and a dangerously stratified society?
- 23/01/2011 07:24:48 AM
1068 Views
The situation in Seanchan isn't that unique
- 23/01/2011 07:49:28 AM
1139 Views
there's tons of problems there, but 20+ leaders/royals killed? Disaster anywhere... *NM*
- 23/01/2011 11:38:57 AM
555 Views
Funny; Caemlyn's succession crises aren't nearly as bad. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 11:00:45 PM
541 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
567 Views
The anarchy is what happens in the absence of Seanchan power.
- 27/01/2011 01:10:56 PM
1091 Views
Yes. That is a flaw of Seanchan governance.
- 28/01/2011 01:54:00 AM
974 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
1283 Views
Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 29/01/2011 02:09:05 AM
986 Views
Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 29/01/2011 01:10:36 PM
1091 Views
Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 29/01/2011 10:02:27 PM
908 Views
Re: Wait... the indegenous Seanchan haven't changed in a thousand years?
- 30/01/2011 03:56:23 AM
1142 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
1116 Views
They treat channelers like DOGS! so, No. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 07:56:22 AM
540 Views
Dogs never broke the world or created Shadowspawn, so they have it coming *NM*
- 27/01/2011 01:07:32 PM
534 Views
The Pattern certainly has some plan or purpose for the Seanchan.
- 23/01/2011 10:59:33 AM
1162 Views
That's what's scary. In many ways, the Seanchan embody the goals of the Pattern
- 23/01/2011 11:41:35 PM
991 Views
If we're going to personify things, we should be personifying the Wheel, not the Pattern.
- 24/01/2011 12:13:49 AM
1027 Views
I think it's interesting
- 24/01/2011 09:23:40 AM
1048 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
935 Views
Um, no
- 23/01/2011 11:36:24 AM
1118 Views
look around you again
- 23/01/2011 03:24:01 PM
1097 Views
Seanchan equality before the law
- 23/01/2011 04:09:54 PM
1123 Views
Re: Seanchan equality before the law
- 23/01/2011 04:22:28 PM
1096 Views
a) most of that is your own extrapolation, not shown in the text
- 23/01/2011 04:56:14 PM
1054 Views
Mostly, yes.
- 23/01/2011 05:57:17 PM
1011 Views
Re: Mostly, yes.
- 23/01/2011 06:10:10 PM
1060 Views
I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 24/01/2011 08:04:21 PM
1146 Views
Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 25/01/2011 10:40:58 AM
981 Views
Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 25/01/2011 05:55:13 PM
973 Views
Re: I see them as neccessary evil to eventually eliminate channeling.
- 26/01/2011 12:10:54 AM
1218 Views
"We" don't know of the One Power existing, so obviously it disappears. *NM*
- 26/01/2011 12:14:19 AM
560 Views
Lack of knowledge doesn't mean the One Power vanishes or is destroyed.
- 26/01/2011 04:03:22 PM
963 Views
If OP still existed, you'd still have sparkers even "today". *NM*
- 26/01/2011 06:34:50 PM
537 Views