The Andalite Government

[Yorick Brown]

Yes. Very much. Why wouldn't it?

[wotw2112]

We have to consider that the people in any government never really know exactly what the military is up to (not completely).  I doubt it's much different with the andalites.

[yeerklover]

The andalites are too proud and arrogant. they have such a high-and-mighty attitude, but then they are ok with killing an entire species just to stop the yeerks. And then they have the audacity to act as though humans are not worthy of life.

[Phoenix004]

The andalites are too proud and arrogant. they have such a high-and-mighty attitude, but then they are ok with killing an entire species just to stop the yeerks. And then they have the audacity to act as though humans are not worthy of life.

True, but you're forgetting that it was only the Andalite Military that thought that. The civilian population had no idea what they were planning and would never have agreed with that course of action.

[yeerklover]

Sorry...that's what I meant. The government not the people.

[Azguard]

 Maybe they have an entirely different form of government than anything we have here on Earth.

 Maybe there are war-princes and councils and the Electorate and they check each other for balance in power.

 I guess we can also consider the fact that their government evolved over time. I can see how it could be so. With the new threat of the Yeerks there must have been huge debates and discussions among the general population. Then as the war progressed, and the Yeerk threat became more imminent (it seemed like the Yeerks was more than a nuisance), the government became more protective, enforcing more and more rules and restricting information "for the good of the public" through military might.

 I can see how that can turn into a huge debate...you know...like "fight the Yeerks because it is our duty after what we've done" or "containment and threat of military and government control".

Of course....maybe the Andalites have a completely different thought process...

[Tim Bruening]

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

Extract organs from damaged Andalites, then have those Andalites morph and demorph to heal?

[Tim Bruening]

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.

How does the Andalite economy work without currency?

[Tim Bruening]

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

In which book is it stated that the Tria gland can't be morphed back into existence?

I had figured that since morphing and demorphing is DNA based, that whenever Ax demorphed, ALL his natural organs would be recreated.

[Tim Bruening]

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).

I have read of Animorphs demorphing back to full health after losing limbs in battle.

I once read of Marco morphing to cure himself of rabies!  (The Journey).

[Tim Bruening]

Since Andalite military leaders are called "Princes", then shouldn't the leader of the government be called a "King"?

[Tim Bruening]

Maybe they have an entirely different form of government than anything we have here on Earth.

 Maybe there are war-princes and councils and the Electorate and they check each other for balance in power.

 I guess we can also consider the fact that their government evolved over time. I can see how it could be so. With the new threat of the Yeerks there must have been huge debates and discussions among the general population. Then as the war progressed, and the Yeerk threat became more imminent (it seemed like the Yeerks was more than a nuisance), the government became more protective, enforcing more and more rules and restricting information "for the good of the public" through military might.

 I can see how that can turn into a huge debate...you know...like "fight the Yeerks because it is our duty after what we've done" or "containment and threat of military and government control".

Of course....maybe the Andalites have a completely different thought process...

Imagine the Andalite election ads: 'My opponent is soft on the Yeerks!"  "I have in my hand a list of Yeerk sympathizers in the current government!".

I expect that all Andalites would have to have their heads X-rayed to make sure that they don't have Yeerks in their brains!.