Elf Sternberg

I _don't_ think that things like the Klingons are ridiculous; I don't believe that the economies of scale necessary to get off the planet preclude an expansionist, imperialistic, _war-like_ society.

After all, the Russians made it into orbit and the U.S. made it to the Moon at the height of the Cold War -- when both societies could be argued to have been imperialistic.

Moreover, you seem to be assuming that once a culture expands off its own planet, it is instantly frozen in time and cannot change. Nothing could be further from the truth (see e.g. the hundreds of science fiction novels which presuppose a diaspora leading to hundreds of different human civilizations).

I agree that the early years of space colonization will likely be marked by a certain degree of communalism (if not Communism) -- mostly because the associated technology will be experimental and/or fragile and the environment is so harsh.

However, as the technology becomes more mature and accidents become less likely and less fatal, this social structure is likely to break down, leaving only a residue of customs like going to help a ship that shouts M'aidez.

At that point, societies which were formerly in constant contact (because that way they could assured of getting help in case of), will now deem themselves self-sufficient and possibly become insular.

Such insularity can easily develop into nationalism in the short run, xenophobia in the long run, and an aggressive imperialism once the society looks outward again.

Just my two cents.

-Malthus