History Main / StrawCivilian

* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'' can wander this way. Given most of the characters are military figures or those who associate with them regularly, and that the Colonial Military of Galactica represents the only functioning organization they have left (such that fleet wide control, government and supply -including basics such as providing water - are impossible without them) this is hardly surprising. People who, often for good reasons, try to change things have to look bad to keep things steady, and it can veer too far on occasion.

* In ''IslandInTheSeaOfTime'', Pamela Lisketter and her followers, all of them civilians, actively aid [[BigBad Walker]] because they object to Alston's plans to intervene in the war between the Iraiina and the Fiernan.

* ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'' tends to present the military in a more favorable light than civilians, since the majority of the main characters are officers.
** It helps that the major civillian character outside of Minmay happens to be a gigantic douche. Also, the higher-ups in the UN Spacy (Adm. Hayase, for one) are shown to be a bunch of twits who are more interested in keeping up appearances for political reasons themselves. Really, in this case it's almost a case of [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality Straw Anyone Who Is Not A Macross Crew member.]]

* ''TabletopGame/{{BattleTech}}'' fiction leans heavily towards this. The less military experience the ruler of a Successor State has, the less trustworthy they are. (The one exception to this rule may be the late Melissa Steiner-Davion, and even she had to pick up a gun and get her hands personally dirty at a young age when kidnappers came calling during one interstellar voyage.)

* ''Series/{{JAG}}'' became more obvious of this trope when the producers were given official approval by the Pentagon. StrawmanNewsMedia characters were a common occurence. [[http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2002/08/a_few_sanctimonious_men.html]]
** One of few exceptions to this generalization seems to be the Sudanese "people’s poet" Professor Dobotu in the fourth season episode "Embassy" who is depicted as a Gandhi-like GentlemanSnarker.

** On the other hand the new BSG introduced the Adama/Roslin dynamic specifically to avert the way this trope appeared in the original series, given the tendency of the Council of 12 to always suggest some inane plan. For instance: The Cylons annihilated our civilization in a surprise attack during peace negotiations... so let's make peace with the Cylons and destroy our weapons to show we ''mean it'' this time! While the new series focusses more on the military, the civilian side hasn't been ignored.
** However, any civilian who wants to change the way things are run (Tom Zarek, Gauis Baltar) isn't really portrayed very positively, though there are other reasons (and more the former than the latter). In-universe, Colonel Tigh seems to think this way. And once Lee is elected to the Quorum, it's depicted as pretty much a useless talking shop for a couple of episodes, until Zarek kills them all just to KickTheDog.

** Plus it was at least partially their fault, as they suppress information about the Goa'uld which definitely made those situations more likely.
** The outright power hungry tactics of Senator Kinsey and the NID overshadow what are in fact serious breaches of protocol and oversight in Stargate Command. We automatically take the side of SG-1 and the rest of the SGC because they are the protagonists, and the leaders of the team are by virtue of character nature not going to play it by the book. When you stop and consider the Fridge Logic of just how reckless SG-1 can be, you really start to sympathize with Richard Woolsey's interference with the program.
*** Note that, as well-meaning as Woolsey was, one of his blunders resulted in a near-ascended villain getting free and rampaging through the SGC, killing indiscriminately. This actually becomes a plot point later on in the show: when [[spoiler:Woolsey decided to have an Ori-corrupted Daniel (actually a part of Daniel's plan) [[SealedEvilInACan put out of commission]] at any cost, Daniel specifically states that he didn't blame him and cited the previous incident as Woolsey trying not to make the same mistake again]]. The general theme seems to be that neither the military nor the civilians are entirely evil: there are just some corrupted individuals in both camps (Maybourne and Makepeace in the military, the NID amongst the civilians). Both sides have sympathetic characters who make mistakes.

* ''Franchise/{{Star Trek}}'' had a couple of these, most notably Nilz Barris from "The Trouble With Tribbles".
** Kirk actually says that Nilz Barris is the first Federation official he has met whose competence he has questioned. That said, there were a lot of egomaniacal ambassadors and scientists who were consistently willing to put their own careers ahead of the lives of the crew. Though, the admiralty is usually depicted as being even worse.

* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Reimagined}}'' can wander this way. Given most of the characters are military figures or those who associate with them regularly, and that the Colonial Military of Galactica represents the only functioning organization they have left (such that fleet wide control, government and supply -including basics such as providing water - are impossible without them) this is hardly surprising. People who, often for good reasons, try to change things have to look bad to keep things steady, and it can veer too far on occasion.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs''. The bureaucrats in the U.S. government are removed from power due to their failure to contain the zombie outbreak. The only civilian branch that hasn't been shutdown is the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA), who assume total governmental control. FEDRA is technically a civilian government agency (like homeland security), but they apparently have the exact same goals as the military; even 20 years after the outbreak, the military is still working for FEDRA.

* In ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'', the Civil Emergency and Defense Agecny (CEDA) is shown to be a civilian government organization that is ineffective at dealing with the zombie apocalypse, like providing useless, even dangerous advice to citizens (like telling them to NOT arm themselves.) Eventually, everyone is relieved when the military shuts them down and begins a less peaceful (though pragmatic) approach.
* This is inverted in ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs''. The bureaucratic, civilian body of the U.S. government is removed from power because they apparently failed to contain the spread of the zombie outbreak. Therefore, the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA) assumes complete power, as well as control over the U.S. military. FEDRA is technically a civilian government agency (like homeland security), but they are extremely aggressive and use their control and support of the military to violently combat the infection.

* This is inverted in ''VideoGame/TheLastofUs''. The bureaucratic, civilian body of the U.S. government is removed from power because they apparently failed to contain the spread of the zombie outbreak. Therefore, the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA) assumes complete power, as well as control over the U.S. military. FEDRA is technically a civilian government agency (like homeland security), but they are extremely aggressive and the military actually supports them.

Turns up in a lot of MilitaryScienceFiction, but is also found elsewhere. The (mostly) opposite of ArmiesAreEvil. Like all tropes concerning Straw, UnfortunateImplications abound.

** However, any civilian who wants to change the way things are run (Tom Zarek, Gauis Baltar) isn't really portrayed very positively, though there are other reasons (and more the former than the latter). In-universe, Colonel Tigh seems to think this way.

* In ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'', pretty much anyone not willing to pick up a rifle and stand a post is treated like this, regardless of their actual reasons for not serving. In addition, civilians are portrayed as [[TheyJustDontGetIt being incapable of really understanding]] the need for a military at all.

** One of few exceptions to this generalization seems to be the Sudanese "peoples poet" Professor Dobotu in the fourth season episode "Embassy" who is depicted as a Gandhi-like GentlemanSnarker.

** One of few exceptions to this generalization seems to be the Sudanese "people’s poet" Professor Dobotu in the fourth season episode "Embassy" who is depicted as a Gandhi-like GentlemanSnarker.

* [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=1635 How Warhawk characterizes Love Dove]] in ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}''

* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'' overlaps this with YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters. On the one hand, the protagonists (the Gundam pilots) are fighting against the corrupt Earth government oppressing the space colonies. On the other hand, people (on both the space colonies and Earth) are getting sick of the fighting. Which makes for lots of ContemplateOurNavels on the issue of war and peace.

As with all tropes in TheWarOnStraw, NoRealLifeExamplesPlease The reason is that, obviously, people are not crafted for a specific purpose, so to stereotype is out of bounds with us here.

* Ashley of ''Franchise/MassEffect'' has this view about civilians. Her above quote is repeated when talking with different party members, each of whom will have a different response; Garrus will reply that such thinking is to be expected, while Tali will say that the civilians' work is necessary and Liara finds the fact that people can enjoy everyday routines to be comforting.

* The show ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' is actually told from the perspective of bureaucrats. Whenever the main characters interact with the public, the members of the public are portrayed as a collection of weirdos and morons. For example, one public forum featured a woman complaining to the Parks Department because she found a sandwich in one of their parks and was upset that it didn't contain mayonnaise.
** And then there was the episode where a man chained himself to the protagonist's desk and refused to leave until she agreed to put a copy of ''{{Twilight}}'' in the town's time capsule.

->'''Ashley''': It’s strange. The geth are attacking, and everyone around here is still worried about ordinary business.
->'''Garrus''': You’re military, Chief Williams. They’re civilians. Civilians never believe the enemy is coming until they’re at the gates.

It's not just the [[ObstructiveBureaucrat bureaucrats who are obstructive]] - it's the entire non-military world. All politicians, regardless of affiliation, are dedicated to blocking, budget-cutting, and otherwise screwing over the military for the sake of short term political gain. (And the criticism isn't just of pacifists - ''all'' politics is [[DemocracyIsBad portrayed as inherently ignoble]]. If it's only politicians of a certain type who get this treatment, it might be a case of StrawmanPolitical instead.) Courts and lawyers tie the military up with silly regulations which stop them doing their jobs. The news media never understand the realities of war, and reporters are critical of everything the military does. Businessmen [[ThereAreNoGoodExecutives just want to profit]] from the war, and don't care if their products are defective and get soldiers killed. The general public are ungrateful for the sacrifices made by the military. Even non-combat military personnel can be part of it, if they're fastidious about rules or are ArmchairMilitary. Any character who isn't a soldier, really, has no plot purpose except to get in the way of the brave, noble, and self-sacrificing characters who are.

* ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' is full of these, anyone who is against the main characters are usually, conniving cowardly jerks who do it for their own self interest, and in favor of the enemy. One example are the Peace Brigades during the Yuuzhan Vong war, who sell out Jedi and other Republic personnel to the Vong to save their own skins.

* ''SuperDimensionFortressMacross'' tends to present the military in a more favorable light than civilians, since the majority of the main characters are officers.

* ''GundamWing'' overlaps this with YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters. On the one hand, the protagonists (the Gundam pilots) are fighting against the corrupt Earth government oppressing the space colonies. On the other hand, people (on both the space colonies and Earth) are getting sick of the fighting. Which makes for lots of ContemplateOurNavels on the issue of war and peace.

* [[UnbuiltTrope Unbuilt]] but visible in ''Film/TheThingFromAnotherWorld'', where the scientists (especially Dr. Carrington) butt heads with the military men about how to deal with the creature.

* ''{{BattleTech}}'' fiction leans heavily towards this. The less military experience the ruler of a Successor State has, the less trustworthy they are. (The one exception to this rule may be the late Melissa Steiner-Davion, and even she had to pick up a gun and get her hands personally dirty at a young age when kidnappers came calling during one interstellar voyage.)
** Used and [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]] with [[TheClan The Clans]]. Founded by military members as a society free from selfish civilian political influences, It soon devolved into a totalitarian martial culture who aren't actually that good at warfare, and spend more time fighting each other than the Inner Sphere.
* People in ''TheSwordOfTruth'' are supposed to look foolish for not joining Richard's empire and disagreeing with his strategy of total war against the Imperial Order. But look at it like this. Richard is descended from the line of the Rahls, notorious for being [[InTheBlood crazy power hungry bastards.]] He ascended to rule the D'Haran Empire by [[SelfmadeOrphan killing his father.]] He continues to employ the Mord-Sith, whose primary purpose for existing is to torture people. Most of the claims about the Imperial Order's evil initially comes from Richard and his own soldiers. And he's continuing his father's expansionist policies, and also insisting that people perform the devotion, in which they spend a total of four hours every day essentially ''praying'' to Richard. (There's a magical reason why this protects them, but most people don't know about it). He's also fond of making references to how much killing he does. Oh, and he broke a little girl's jaw. Would ''you'' trust this guy? Well you should, because he's right, and if you don't join with him the Order will kill and rape everyone in the country. Although that may happen anyway.
* A surprising aversion is the ''RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms''. Despite the fact that the military officers are usually portrayed well, there are several times where it is shown that they are wrong in not wanting to bow to civilian authorities. Good examples include Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's resentment of Zhuge Liang before his plans win the day at Bowang Slope and the Wu military's resentment of Lu Xun before he shows his worth at Yiling.

* ''Edge of Apocalypse'' takes this UpToEleven, with the protagonist being a private contractor who designed a missile-defense system that works by reprogramming missiles via a laser to send them back to their point of origin. He consistently refuses to let the American Congress even see the details about the system they're paying for, because he feels only he can be trusted with it. In this story, he's completely right because all the politicians who want information about the system that will essentially nuke any location a missile is fired upon, whether the President or anyone wants to do so or not, are working with foreign conspirators who want to bring the U.S. down into a OneWorldGovernment. Unsurprisingly, it's from one of the co-authors of ''LeftBehind''.

** One of few exceptions to this generalization seems to be the Sudanese “people’s poet” Professor Dobotu in the fourth season episode "Embassy" who is depicted a Gandhi-like GentlemanSnarker.

* From the famous "St. Crispin's Day" speech in ''HenryV'' we have the following lines, disparaging those who would not fight with Harry at Agincourt.

* Anybody who's non-military in the ''Gears of War'' series is shown to be a complete asshole to COG soldiers - and their own. This is, of course, justified, as the COG [[ANaziByAnyOtherName weren't]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist exactly]] [[IDidWhatIHadToDo saints]] before ''or'' after E-Day.

* [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=1635 How Warhawk characterizes Love Dove]] in ''{{Sinfest}}''

** The StargateVerse also features the IOC (International Oversight Committee), a bunch of "obstructive bureaucrats". Sort of subverted in that both Richard Woolsey and Camille Wray end up being sympathetic characters.

* ''E-Ring'' had its share of both Straw Civilian and Military {{Obstructive Bureaucrat}}s hindering or downright forbidding the Mission of the Week.

* ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever'' cheerfully plays this straight: the [[OurPresidentsAreDifferent US President]] is an ObstructiveBureaucrat who outright states he should have ordered the [[CIAEvilFBIGood CIA to assassinate Duke]], while the BigGood of the game is [[TheBrigadier General Graves]], despite being mostly a DeskJockey.
* Ashley of ''Franchise/MassEffect'' has this view about civilians. Her above quote is repeated when talking with different party members, each of whom will have a different response; Garrus will reply that such thinking is to be expected, while Tali will say that the civilians' work is necessary and Liara finds the fact that people can enjoy everyday routines to be comforting. Also, throughout all three games, the only prominent authority figures who are not ObstructiveBureaucrat types are Admirals Hackett and Anderson.

* ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' is full of these, anyone who is against the main characters are usually, conniving cowardly jerks who are do it for their own self interest, in favor of the enemy. One example are the Peace Brigades during the Yuuzhan Vong war, who sell out Jedi and other Republic personnel to the Vong to save their own skins.

* ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' is full of these, anyone who is against the main characters are usually, conniving cowardly jerks who are do it for their own self interest, in favor of the enemy. One example are the Peace Brigades during the Yuuzhan Vong war, who sell out Jedi and other Republic personel to the Vong to save their own skins.

** Used and [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]] with [[TheClan The Clans]]. Founded by military members as a society free from selfish civilian political influences, It soon devolved into a totalitarian martial culture who aren't actually that good at warfare.

-->-- MassEffect

* Ashley of ''MassEffect'' has this view about civilians. Her above quote is repeated when talking with different party members, each of whom will have a different response; Garrus will reply that such thinking is to be expected, while Tali will say that the civilians' work is necessary and Liara finds the fact that people can enjoy everyday routines to be comforting. Also, throughout all three games, the only prominent authority figures who are not ObstructiveBureaucrat types are Admirals Hackett and Anderson.

As with all tropes in TheWarOnStraw, NoRealLifeExamplesPlease The reason is that, obviously, real people are not crafted for a specific purpose.

* TomClancy's novels have this on occasion, though one line about people complaining about loud jets flying between bases was lightly mocked by a pilot for not liking "the sound of freedom".
** Clancy averts this trope as often as he plays it straight, however. Generally, whilst civilians often get in the military's way, their plight/position is portrayed with respect - in ''The Cardinal of the Kremlin'', for instance, the President's Chief of Staff argues against rescuing the titular American spy, citing the fact that it could compromise dramatic diplomatic successes. Whilst the protagonists are against him, his argument is given a fair hearing.
** Also, the civilian complaining about the noise was ribbing the pilot. The two of them are friends messing with each other.