History Fridge / SidMeiersAlphaCentauri

*** Well, more of the ideal of the Soviet Union since the country did ban genetics and cybernetics which partially led to the brain drain that led to the creation of the Berlin Wall.

** Alternatively, Progressive/Liberal USA. Promotes the ideals of democracy and freedom, celebrates cultural diversity and seeks to get other nations to work together. But occasionally can be a bit too enthusiastic in intervening in the internal affairs of other countries or outright launching 'police actions' against them in the name of defending human rights.
** Or the European Union - pro-democracy and extremely pro-human rights, as well as international consensus and co-operation - alongside a ton of bureaucracy and inefficiency.

** Spartan Federation = Latin American Union. Juntas, revolutionaries, cartels, gangsters, police, kidnappers and private security - everyone is armed. Alternatively, Conservative USA. Encourages and promotes values such as discipline, loyalty, and self-determination. Highly suspicious of foreign powers and in response have a massive 'defense' budget and all citizens being given the right to bear arms. Viewed by outsiders as aggressive and violent, while seeing themselves as the OnlySaneMan in a dangerous and hostile world.

* The very existence of such a book raises all kinds of Fridge Horror. What does a child have to do to be nerve-stapled? Or worse, how freely is nerve-stapling employed if it's being ''done to children''?! And worse than that, think about how many children have to be nerve-stapled before there can be a market for such a book...
* Michael Ely's book ''Dragon Sun'' shows exactly what nerve-stapling is in a BodyHorror fashion. Once everyone knows that Yang does this to his people and any prisoner his faction captures in battle, everyone turns against him, even Deirdre, his former ally.
* It should be noted that if you nerve-staple the population of another faction's base that you capture, [[MoralEventHorizon they will hate you and stay at war with you FOREVER.]]

** Morgan industries = African Union. Who would be more focused on wealth than the recently poor? Blood Diamond writ large. Alternatively, Corporate USA. Strong emphasis on economics. Staunchly capitalist and at least nominally Free-Market, though more focus on MegaCorp. Limited to no government due to said market idealogy. But is also interested in becoming the ''de-facto'' government of the entire world.
** Spartan federation = Latin American Union. Juntas, revolutionaries, cartels, gangsters, police, kidnappers and private security - everyone is armed. Alternatively, Conservative USA. Encourages and promotes values such as discipline, loyalty, and self-determination. Highly suspicious of foreign powers and in response have a massive 'defense' budget and all citizens being given the right to bear arms. Viewed by outsiders as aggressive and violent, while seeing themselves as the OnlySaneMan in a dangerous and hostile world.

* The nerve-staple function in ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri'' can lead to this fairly easily. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation From a gameplay perspective]], you click the button, and drone riots go away. You get trade sanctions on you, but you weren't making that much off trade anyway, and besides, it's just for a few turns. It really doesn't amount to much worse than a StronglyWordedLetter. Then you turn around and think: "Nerve-stapling?" What ''could'' that mean. And then it hits you: it means ''exactly'' what it sounds like. And you just did that to ''thousands'' of people.
** Don't forget that some of the material implies it has rather nasty lasting side effects, too. E.g. the book title "How to raise a nerve-stapled child".
*** The very existence of such a book raises all kinds of Fridge Horror. What does a child have to do to be nerve-stapled? Or worse, how freely is nerve-stapling employed if it's being ''done to children''?! And worse than that, think about how many children have to be nerve-stapled before there can be a market for such a book...
** Michael Ely's book ''Dragon Sun'' shows exactly what nerve-stapling is in a BodyHorror fashion. Once everyone knows that Yang does this to his people and any prisoner his faction captures in battle, everyone turns against him, even Deirdre, his former ally.
** It should be noted that if you nerve-staple the population of another faction's base that you capture, [[MoralEventHorizon they will hate you and stay at war with you FOREVER.]]

** The Human Hive = China. Communism, Confucianism and Buddhism all uphold selflessness and unity. Yang took it to extreme by neglecting everything else. Their main weakness being that the people are being held back by the lack of political freedom (negative economic ranking), but that is counter balanced with a hard-working and fast growing population.
*** Additionally, Yang's given name Sheng-ji can mean "upgrade" in Mandarin Chinese with the appropriate tones, which [[MeaningfulName ties in very well]] with his obsession over transcendence.

*** Alternatively, Progressive/Liberal USA. Promotes the ideals of democracy and freedom, celebrates cultural diversity and seeks to get other nations to work together. But occasionally can be a bit too enthusiastic in intervening in the internal affairs of other countries or outright launching 'police actions' against them in the name of defending human rights.
*** Or the European Union - pro-democracy and extremely pro-human rights, as well as international consensus and co-operation - alongside a ton of bureaucracy and inefficiency.

** Morgan industries = African Union. Who would be more focused on wealth than the recently poor? Blood Diamond writ large.
*** Alternatively, Corporate USA. Strong emphasis on economics. Staunchly capitalist and at least nominally Free-Market, though more focus on MegaCorp. Limited to no government due to said market idealogy. But is also interested in becoming the ''de-facto'' government of the entire world.
** Spartan federation = Latin American Union. Juntas, revolutionaries, cartels, gangsters, police, kidnappers and private security - everyone is armed.
*** Alternatively, Conservative USA. Encourages and promotes values such as discipline, loyalty, and self-determination. Highly suspicious of foreign powers and in response have a massive 'defense' budget and all citizens being given the right to bear arms. Viewed by outsiders as aggressive and violent, while seeing themselves as the OnlySaneMan in a dangerous and hostile world.

* It's true that much of SMAC is VideoGame/{{Civilization}} RecycledInSpace, but the sci-fi setting does lead to one important thematic difference: in a sci-fi setting, many [[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief willing suspensions of disbelief]] in VideoGame/{{Civilization}} are [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in SMAC. [[PermanentElectedOfficial Leaders that just don't die]]? Kind of hokey at any other point in history - but here it's justified on account of [[WeWillHavePerfectHealthInTheFuture new techniques for extending one's lifespan]]. Instant communication with one's unit and with rival faction leaders? Not likely in 600 BC - but expected in 2100 AD. Natives that attack without [[EverythingTryingToKillYou any due cause]] or [[AttackAttackAttack strategic planning]]? Only partly inspired by real history - but on an alien planet that sees you as an [[KillAllHumans infestation]], it makes sense.

** We became a [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife troper,]] [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking as well.]] We also enjoy the other Wiki.

** The Human Hive = China. Communism, Confucianism and Buddhism all uphold selflessness and unity. Yang took it to extreme by neglecting everything else. Their main weakness being that the people is being held back by the lack of political freedom (negative economic ranking), but that is counter balanced with a hard-working and fast growing population.

** We became a [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife troper,]] [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking as well as developing an enjoyment of the other wiki.]]

** I became a [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife troper,]] [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking as well as developing an enjoyment of the other wiki.]]

* This may be fridge hilarity or fridge horror. The Voice of Planet secret project seeks to awaken the nascent planet-mind to full consciousness by uploading to it the full contents of the human datalinks, an expy for our internet. Now, think for just a moment about what kind of personality would emerge from having the full contents of the internet uploaded just as you're becoming self-aware. Apparently Planet is about to become a sarcastic, cynical, cat-obsessed sex fiend. And a [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife troper,]] [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking on top of all that.]]

* This may be fridge hilarity or fridge horror. The Voice of Planet secret project seeks to awaken the nascent planet-mind to full consciousness by uploading to it the full contents of the human datalinks, an expy for our internet. Now, think for just a moment about what kind of personality would emerge from having the full contents of the internet uploaded just as you're becoming self-aware. Apparently Planet is about to become a sarcastic, cynical, cat-obsessed sex fiend.