Further Exploring the Draka Series

[Whiteshore]

It'd make far more sense to have them be arch-conservative reactionaries, and America ends up beating them through the power of being more egalitarian, equal etc.

Now that you mentioned that, EBR did a good reconstruction of them called Separated At Birth.

 

[MaxGerke01]

So when it comes to Jews once it was widely know what the Nazis were doing to them in Europe at least at first wouldnt Draka propaganda have expressed some pro Jewishness if only in the sense that of so you think we are bad just look at these Germans? Once the Draka had captured European Russia and moved into Europe proper and it became very clear that they intended on enslaving all of those European populations such propaganda would become pretty useless but it seems like its something they would try for a while-at least to get the US to attack the Germans which they needed at that point....

 

[regnak]

So when it comes to Jews once it was widely know what the Nazis were doing to them in Europe at least at first wouldnt Draka propaganda have expressed some pro Jewishness if only in the sense that of so you think we are bad just look at these Germans? Once the Draka had captured European Russia and moved into Europe proper and it became very clear that they intended on enslaving all of those European populations such propaganda would become pretty useless but it seems like its something they would try for a while-at least to get the US to attack the Germans which they needed at that point....

IIRC they started WWII with 14 million troops so the Draka didn’t need any help at all. Just a total lack of internal consistency in book 1.

 

[MaxGerke01]

IIRC they started WWII with 14 million troops so the Draka didn’t need any help at all. Just a total lack of internal consistency in book 1.

I thought the whole reason they were taking the American journalist William Dresier on his tour of Draka fighting units was to give the American population a good impression and encourage them to join the war on their side or at least not join the war on the German side-hey you may not love us but we are the lesser of two evils ?

 

[regnak]

I thought the whole reason they were taking the American journalist William Dresier on his tour of Draka fighting units was to give the American population a good impression and encourage them to join the war on their side or at least not join the war on the German side-hey you may not love us but we are the lesser of two evils ?

Right like I said no internal consistency, the plot point is contradicted by the timeline in the appendix.

 

[pattontank12]

IIRC there's material in the books indicating that there have been serf revolts - Central Africa (the 'police zones' as they call it in the books) is basically under permanent martial law, and you get the impression there's some parts that they don't bother pacifying, they just make sure nobody ever comes out. And didn't Eric von Shrakenberg's brother die during a serf revolt? In fact, that's the main driver between the decision to engineer Homo Servus and conquer the planet, because they know that as long as there's free parts of Earth they're on a ticking clock before there's a huge revolt. I mean, it's author fiat, but he does try to explain it. Sort of.

Though mind you, the serfs we see are depicted in a horribly racist way - most of them being too scared or too in love with the Draka to revolt.

Also, Stirling seems to horribly misunderstand classical slavery - it seems like 'Well the Romans had loyal slaves, so why not these guys?' Missing the fact that Roman slavery was something that, though brutal, gave the hope of freedom - there was always the chance a slave could manage to buy their freedom, or do such a service to their owner that they'd be freed, then once they were freed their children or grandchildren could become citizens one day. In order to avoid a slave revolt, there needs to be the possibility of the slaves eventually ascending to the free and privileged class themselves, that way they'll have an incentive to buy into the status quo...and even then, there'll still be rebellions! Draka-style slavery doesn't leave any kind of avenue for that because Draka serfs can never be free.



Yep...

You'd think there'd generally be a more diversified class system in place across the Domination before the Eurasian war. Then the more spartan styled warrior citizen & slave system that Stirling was going for in the original books.

It would probably go more along this line.

1. "First Citizens" descendants of the original families that settled the early Domination following the American Revolution. Acting as the pseudo aristocratic leadership of the Dominion.
2. Secondary Whites would be the majority of Draka's white population descended from the pre existing Dutch Boer's or later immigrants like American Confederates. Making up the bulk of Draka's military, middle & day to day management. (Later this would include post Eurasian War European's who were purposely spread out across Afro-Eurasia by the Domination. Into pre planned communities that would purposely mix as many European nationalities as possible so they'd be easier to assimilate as a whole)
3. Foreign Colors which would be divided into two groups. Those who brought over to Africa by the British as additional labor during the 19th century, similar to OTL Indian South Africans & Cape Malays. With them acting in a similar role to American Delta Chinese being trusted intermediaries between the white and black communities, while TECHNICALLY having the same legal rights as the white citizens. The second group would be the freed Janissaries and their families that after the Great & Eurasian Wars were awarded freedom and land to settle in the Middle East and East Asia.
4. Honorary Whites are the pre existing local ruling class and other natives who turned collaborator in exchange for certain privileges.
5. The Serfs who unlike with Stirling are actually closer to Medieval serfs. Being able to own property, rights to court of law and certain protections.
6. Then the actual slaves that are the absolute bottom of Draka society with everyone being free to beat on them. The only way out is either your master setting you free or winning it as jannissary. Where if you survive you get your freedom for you, your family and a free plot of land newly conquered lands to call your own.