The Andalite Government

[Yorick Brown]

We never really got any insight into what the Andalitre homeworld government was like but I have a feeling given Andalite pride and ego and strict military discipline, they have a meritocracy or at least a stratocracy rather than the democracies of most Earth nations.

I can't imagine a monarchy or autocracy or an aristocracy. Nor a plutocracy like the Iskoort or an oligarchy likes the Yeerks. (Or do they have a krotocracy?)

I find the idea of an Andalite theocracy to be laughable. They're respectful of nature and can be seen as spiritual but never overtly religious. An anarchy too. Order is too important for Andalites.

Here's a list of the forms of government out there:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_Government

[Phoenix004]

They had a clear hierarchy in their military, but they also mentioned an Electorate which seemed to be in charge over all and apparently represented the will of the people. I assumed it to be some type of democracy, but we don't really have enough information to know for sure. Also, I'm not exactly an expert on types of government.

Due to their spiritual ways, respect for fellow creatures and natural optimism, it is logical to assume that Andalites are generally a peaceful race. They are vegetarians (which accounts for their views on not harming animals) and their tail blades evolved merely for self-defence. Even with their advanced weapons and other technology, they had no objections about giving their technology freely to the Yeerks in order to help them develop as a race. Unfortunately, their kindness backfired and most likely led to their increased sense of arrogance, duty and self-discipline. Even Alloran (one of the most immoral Andalites we met) was said to have been a fun loving individual before being corrupted by war.

Taking all this into account, it makes sense that their government would be one designed to make everything free and equal. They also do not seem to have the concept of currency, which pretty much removes greed (a common source of corruption) from the equation. Democracy is far from perfect, but the Andalite society is far more advanced and sophisticated than ours, so perhaps they found a way to make it work better for them than it does for us.

[Yorick Brown]

Actually, they do have an economy of sorts. The Arrival taked about the black market trade of Andalite organs from battle.

[Phoenix004]

Good point, but trade doesn't necessarily mean currency like we have. He could have traded them for weapons, technology, or something else he wanted. It may not be currency, but I suppose that does mean that greed could be a factor, unless he was actually just donating them to Andalites that needed them, but somehow I doubt that.

[Estelore]

A parliamentary republican democracy, perhaps?
The people have a big voice, and they choose their leaders, who are accountable to them for EVERYTHING. In wartimes, the military takes a major role in government, and they return to standard governmental style afterward.

Also, why need to sell organs illegally, when you can remove an organ, morph, demorph, remove the same organ again, morph, demorph, ad infinitum?

[Duff]

I think there were some organs that could not simply be morphed back, like that gland in the brain that ax had removed

I pictured them to have some kind of senate, but from their hesitance to make decisions in 54 cause the home planet was watching it definately tells them that the people have some sort of power over their leaders

[Yorick Brown]

Ax said that selling organs from battlefields is illegal because it deters Andalites from possibly being hesitant to save a fallen comrade or even move along the comrade's death.

Maybe the morphing technology isn't as good for healing as we think. Morphing can't help you heal from germs hurting your body (ex. The Sickness) and maybe they can't regrow organs and appendages of the morpher. Only broken bones and damaged internal injuries like the spinal cord (ex. The Ultimate).

[RYTX]

Also, why need to sell organs illegally, when you can remove an organ, morph, demorph, remove the same organ again, morph, demorph, ad infinitum?

Sell it to the Skirt Na.
They've been taking people for how long, bet they could find uses for Andalite spleens

[Phoenix004]

Skrit Na would buy anything. They're morons! 

More importantly, you all seem to be forgetting that the Andalite morphing technology is only given to members of the military (or other lucky or high ranking people). The public population do not have access to it, and for good reason. It's a powerful weapon and one of the Andalites most prized and protected pieces of technology. Therefore, most Andalites can't just morph to heal injuries. Also, it is possible that the morphing to heal has limits. Genetic diseases would not be affected by the morphing process (see #40).

[RYTX]

hey, skrit na have been flying around since the ellimist had a body.
And they've been in business the whole time too.
In fact, pssh forget the Yeerks, forget the Andalites; Skrit Na for today tomorrow and yesteryear!

[Phoenix004]

The Skrit Na have been around since the Ellimist had a physical body, which was approximately the dawn of Andalite existence, and yet Andalite technology of the present day is vastly superior to that of the Skrit Na. What does that tell you about them? 

[RYTX]

They were suited for their niche.
If it ain't broke don't fix it

[Phoenix004]

lol, true. Still, how many millions of years can you spend abducting aliens and performing medical experiments on them before it gets boring?

[wotw2112]

lol, true. Still, how many millions of years can you spend abducting aliens and performing medical experiments on them before it gets boring?

New thrills for each new generation

And there are always more crazy experiments to conduct

In fact, pssh forget the Yeerks, forget the Andalites; Skrit Na for today tomorrow and yesteryear!

Victory for the entrepreneurs!

[TheFearlessLeader]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, I haven't read this whole thread, but there is something else to be considered.

In the last book, they put the message through to the home world mass communications thing so that the people can view it. It says that the people would never allow the Andalite Military to destroy Earth in order to quarantine the yeerk threat. This signifies to me that the people have at least some say in the government.

I'm not much of a governmental specialist, but does this have any impact on the discussion?