Can the Prime Directive ever work in reality?

[Theta Sigma]

In Star Trek, the Prime Directive is the policy of non-interference in the affairs of other worlds.
Can the Prime Directive ever work in the real world if it is applied to every country around the world (since we do not yet that there is life on other planets) given the fact there have been interference in a country's domestic affairs. The example I am thinking of is that of political parties interfering in foreign elections such as Tory officials from the UK being sent to the US to help out Bush, Sr's reelection campaign in 1992. Another example is Lynton Crosby the former director of the Liberal Party in Australia helping out with the British Conservative Party campaign in last year's election.

Personally I don't see how campaigning in a foreign election is as different as someone campaigning in an election of another planet.

So if every country had a binding agreement not to interfere in another's affairs, a agreement that applies both to the government and its citizens, would it ever work?

[EAS_Intrepid]

That must be specified. For your campaigning example it would even be very helpful, but think of other issues: Africa.

The mess the industrialized nations did there must now be resolved by the industrialized nations. I go into deeper detail. A Prime Directive would be very good in the case of Sudan. But that Directive must have been implemented before the British began colonizing Africa. Or before Germany began selling weapons to Sudanese War Criminals in the 1980s. If there would have been a prime directive saying "Not to interfere in INFERIOR people's affiars" it would have helped a lot.
Such a sentence would now be very controversial, by the way. Who or what indicates which nation is inferior. The Media? The Defense Budget (I hope not)? The Social Income per Year?
As of now, such a Directive would do damage, as it would also help in other places. In the case of Sudan, it would urge the industrialized nations not to intervene (the major bloodshed in Sudan is not yet resolved, because the UN members of Europe and North America are too lazy to send some troops down there and stopp it!)

In the case of a large nation bombing a smaller one back into the stone age, a directive like this could help. Because a bomb destroying a building in that small nation is definately an involvement into other nation's affairs.

If the smaller nation did attack before that, then they broke the Directive. Punishment must follow (which does NOT mean war specifically)

[Darklight]

I don't mean to be annoying but shouldn't this thread be in the Star Trek board?

Sure. Thread moved to the Trek Section- Intrepid

[Theta Sigma]

Well I originally posted it in the General Chat section as I was asking about real world application of the Prime Directive as it is an intellectual debate about not interfering in the internal affairs of another country and not about Star Trek itself. However I have no problem of it being here in the Star Trek section.

[Darklight]

I wasn't actually expecting it to be moved, just asked if it should be in the Trek section that's all.

[EAS_Intrepid]

Now the thead is here and stays here. Please keep on the topic at hand, since it is a very good point for discussion. - Intrepid

[CrazyFrog1903]

It would not work. B/c you would also have problems with countries never getting aid. It sounds good in sci fi but in the real world it would cause more problems then solve.

[F-Bobby]

it definatly couldnt work. Look at what we are into right now. We invaded IRaq to make sure we would have our oil. as a country we are too dependant on other countries to keep our economy going. and If something happens taht doesnt suit our interests we go in and police it so that it does. the Us is the world police force. we feel the need to get ourselves involved in anything and everything to make our selves either A look good to the rest of the world, B to create ebts wit other countries that need to be paid back. or C to change the governments in those countries to the point where we are gettin what we want from them at the price we want it.

the Prime directive is such a great document in theory, but it could never work in this society unfortunately. times like this is when i wish i lived in the star trek universe.

[Lord_Trekie]

It would not work. B/c you would also have problems with countries never getting aid. It sounds good in sci fi but in the real world it would cause more problems then solve.
Exactly, why do you think Captains such as Picard said f#&* the Prime Directive and did what they thought was right.

[Jasoneagle]

You see what a lot of people froget is that the Prime Directive is a Non-interferance with lesser developed Planets not other worlds,
so as the world stand today i dont think it would but if we where to ever discover other life out in space than maybe it would, who is to say we can change the way another culture grows, I ask to take this off of startrek for an example,
look at the tollin in stargate they shard their tech with a world less developed than them and it destroyed that world.

[Theta Sigma]

You see what a lot of people froget is that the Prime Directive is a Non-interferance with lesser developed Planets not other worlds,

That policy applies to any civilization that Starfleet comes in contact with regardless of its stage of development. I am pretty sure Federation officials are not allowed to interfere with the internal affairs of the Klingon Empire and Vulcan for example.
Lesser developed Planets have been given the most focus because these societies have the most impact if Starfleet interferes at a very early stage of their development.

[F-Bobby]

That policy applies to any civilization that Starfleet comes in contact with regardless of its stage of development. I am pretty sure Federation officials are not allowed to interfere with the internal affairs of the Klingon Empire and Vulcan for example.
Lesser developed Planets have been given the most focus because these societies have the most impact if Starfleet interferes at a very early stage of their development.

i dont know if that is part of the Prime directive. But in general starfleet and or the federation is not supposed to get involved in matters of internal security or government.

[Jasoneagle]

Prime Directive as I have Found it:

PRIME DIRECTIVE

As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Star Fleet personnel may interfere with the healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes the introduction of superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely. Star Fleet personnel may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their ship unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral
obligation.

Though
The Prime Directive is never stated within the show, this is to allow writers a greater freedom in defining it and using it.