Seanchan is much closer to the Chinese culture. Which has never established democracy
darius_sedai Send a noteboard - 01/01/2011 06:12:10 AM
And both Tarabon and Arad Domon had elected rulers. Tear had a group of rulers, even if they are selfish bastards, and Illian has the Counsel to offset the power of the Crown. No monarch in the Western Kingdoms has anywhere near the level of authority of the Empress. If you look at the Westlands many are on the verge of establishing Democratic rule.
None of the Westland countries is anywhere near to democratic rule. Actually if we try to make a parallel with real history, an absolute monarchy (like the Seanchan) has proven to be much closer to becoming a democracy later on than a feudal type of government with weak central authority (the other Randland countries). England, France, Prussia, etc, first established a strong central authority before transforming into democracies.
The western nations you mention are far closer to what we see in Andor (England), Cairhein (France) etc... Which have developed democratic societies since the industrial revolution
Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
Avienda's viewing and the Fields of Merrilor (spoilers)
28/12/2010 06:21:05 PM
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Indeed...the bleak future makes the Last Battle almost an anti-climax...
28/12/2010 08:20:31 PM
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And yet, the only places of relative peace and shelter right now are Seanchan controlled lands.
29/12/2010 03:21:37 AM
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Those who would give up permanent liberty in exchange for temporary security, deserve neither..
29/12/2010 10:27:35 AM
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Says the person defending monarchies and oligarchies, some of them quite brutal.
29/12/2010 02:12:56 PM
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LoL. What is this "POV trap" that people refer to so often to make a point?
29/12/2010 10:00:11 PM
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Re: LoL. What is this "POV trap" that people refer to so often to make a point?
29/12/2010 10:44:12 PM
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Why do you have this urge to overcomplicate something as simple as personal likes and dislikes?
30/12/2010 10:00:43 AM
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Re: Why do you have this urge to overcomplicate something as simple as personal likes and dislikes?
07/01/2011 05:28:03 PM
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"romantic characteristics"
07/01/2011 06:06:31 AM
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Re: "romantic characteristics"
07/01/2011 05:30:33 PM
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Don't blame the Seanchan, The Aiel made an excuse to start a war.
08/01/2011 09:20:36 AM
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Re: Those who would give up permanent liberty in exchange for temporary security, deserve neither..
29/12/2010 03:06:16 PM
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They are pretty close to evil. Slavery being the big thing, but the crushing social scale is far
31/12/2010 06:45:59 PM
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The Aiel sold slaves to Shara, does that make them evil? No society in Randland is without flaws.
07/01/2011 05:10:32 AM
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you are missing my point
07/01/2011 11:31:11 PM
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No, you're missing the point. Benevolence is irrelevant.
08/01/2011 09:48:51 AM
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Re: No, you're missing the point. Benevolence is irrelevant.
08/01/2011 10:04:18 AM
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Well the Westlands aren't exactly modern Europe or USA either
08/01/2011 11:00:31 AM
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Re: Well the Westlands aren't exactly modern Europe or USA either
09/01/2011 02:08:17 AM
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That's funny, I'd choose modern day China in a second.
09/01/2011 06:37:24 AM
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Hong Kong is not an accurate representation of the rest of Modern China
20/01/2011 04:50:20 PM
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~sigh~ Cosmopolitan China is different than Rural China
21/01/2011 01:00:17 AM
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well there is also the fact that Hong Kong has different "rules" than even other major
21/01/2011 05:38:46 PM
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I'm not just talking about Hong Kong though...
22/01/2011 09:36:20 AM
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I've traveled extensively
22/01/2011 06:02:47 PM
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You've traveled to China extensively?
22/01/2011 07:41:30 PM
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the quesetion you responded too is "would you rather live in Medieval Europe of Modern China
22/01/2011 09:47:24 PM
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Actually, China is changing.
09/01/2011 06:32:58 AM
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true to a point, yet China has been under one form or another of totalitarian rule for
20/01/2011 04:57:37 PM
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So?
21/01/2011 01:20:18 AM
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It's the comparative to the Seanchan empire I'm really getting at here, not saying China isn't
21/01/2011 05:43:56 PM
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I don't even know why China was brought up in the first place ~shrugs~
22/01/2011 10:04:59 AM
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I totally agree with your last point, which is why I think RJ set them up to be the "Evil Empire"
22/01/2011 06:12:46 PM
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They're not entirely evil though, and RJ has written them that way
22/01/2011 08:02:22 PM
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Please. Like anyone else in Randland is really free?
30/12/2010 02:47:27 AM
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Andor is rather progressive... Allowing the common people to speak their minds
31/12/2010 06:35:29 PM
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Re: Andor is rather progressive... Allowing the common people to speak their minds
01/01/2011 12:18:46 AM
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Seanchan is much closer to the Chinese culture. Which has never established democracy
01/01/2011 06:12:10 AM
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Prussia (and with it Germany) would never have changed to democracy if not forced to
01/01/2011 12:23:34 PM
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too easy: they did not have to fight the Shadow, they don't even know shadowspawn really exist as of *NM*
29/12/2010 02:44:18 PM
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It goes beyond the channelers. The Seanchan control the population
31/12/2010 06:00:57 PM
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Re: It goes beyond the channelers. The Seanchan control the population
01/01/2011 10:58:22 PM
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Word, even the Tinkers are gathering and migrating to Seanchan held lands in the south. *NM*
07/01/2011 05:21:09 AM
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You are right, here is a better analogy
03/01/2011 06:23:16 PM
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Even Hitler didn't think Jews could kill people with their minds
03/01/2011 07:22:09 PM
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It depends on Rand's sperm I guess
28/12/2010 08:27:59 PM
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No, the Seanchan started it, by wanting to conquer the rest of the world...
28/12/2010 08:31:27 PM
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Re: No, the Seanchan started it, by wanting to conquer the rest of the world...
28/12/2010 08:50:28 PM
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Re: No, the Seanchan started it, by wanting to conquer the rest of the world...
30/12/2010 03:56:55 PM
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Because the Aiel are savages who have no place in a modern world
28/12/2010 11:15:23 PM
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Re: No, the Seanchan started it, by wanting to conquer the rest of the world...
30/12/2010 04:01:00 PM
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Re: It depends on Rand's sperm I guess
28/12/2010 11:02:34 PM
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VoG = Veins of Gold. The chapter at the end of TGS where Rand becomes balanced. *NM*
29/12/2010 06:56:38 AM
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timeline in the books
29/12/2010 03:34:45 PM
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Re: timeline in the books
29/12/2010 05:29:11 PM
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Re: timeline in the books
31/12/2010 01:18:32 PM
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yes thousands and thousands AFTER hundreds of years. these kids were probably slowing since birth.
03/01/2011 08:19:22 PM
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Re: yes thousands and thousands AFTER hundreds of years.
04/01/2011 12:21:59 PM
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your premise is that first generation applies to anyone but them.
10/01/2011 09:25:02 PM
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From a plot standpoint I very much dislike Avienda's visions as well
20/01/2011 01:39:37 AM
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Problem is, the fate of post-TG Randland depends on the viewing being heeded before TG. *NM*
20/01/2011 10:07:15 AM
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The Light's victory in the Last Battle was already a foregone conclusion
21/01/2011 03:48:54 PM
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