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spoiler The Political Ideology of School Daze

Night Shine

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This blog post contains spoilers for "School Daze" (Season 8, Episode 1-2).

I am not sure if the intended lesson from "School Daze" is "ethno-nationalism is bad; do away with national barriers and unite!" on the one hoof, or "a monarchy has the right to bypass any bureaucracies it pleases" on the other. Then again, they are not mutually exclusive. I originally intended to post this as a status update (hence the initial zinger-y phrasing), then realized that it is probably a major spoiler. So I thought, "Why not do a full blog post?"

As in my teleology post, I assume that if the protagonists of a show explicitly believe in an ethical idea, their antagonists explicitly believe the opposite, and the protagonists win in the conflict between them, then the show is teaching that those ideas are correct. I begin by discussing Chancellor Neighsay's ideology, and then Twilight's, concluding with implications. Disclaimer: I am not intending to cast any value judgments in this post about the episode, its themes, or their implications.

School Daze used the character of Chancellor Neighsay to represent a whole bundle of -isms: traditionalism, nationalism, racism, and bureaucratism (if that is a word). Regarding traditionalism, he considers it crucial that ponies are "prepared to defend our way of life" [pt. 1], and traditionalism attempts to preserve a cultural group's way of life. For nationalism, he shows outrage at Twilight because he thought she was "opening this school to protect Equestria!" [pt. 2] from other nations -- and other races. MLP:FiM has used species as an analogy for a racial or ethnic group to teach lessons about race and ethnicity in the past, e.g. in Over a Barrel and Bridle Gossip. Note that the first thing Neighsay says in his outrage is call the incident an "act of aggression against ponies" [pt. 2], showing that he sees "ponies" and "Equestria" as interchangeable. He also wanted Twilight "[t]o protect ponies from... dangerous creatures who don't have our best interests at heart!" [pt. 2]. His view of the other species as "dangerous creatures" is speciesest (read: racist) and recognized as such by the adult characters representing the other nations/species (let's call them "diplomats") when they become angry at him. When Neighsay yells at the diplomats to "return to your kind" in pt. 1, Ember is immediately offended by the term your kind because she recognizes that it was intended as a speciesist slur. Regarding bureaucratism, he leads an institutional review board that makes the rules which Twilight has to follow and is introduced while at the head of what looks at first like a trial. He also is insistent about following "the rules," which causes the main conflict of the episode.

Why call him an ethno-nationalist specifically, though? Wikipedia identifies the "central theme of ethnic nationalists" as the belief that "nations are defined by a shared heritage, which usually includes a common language, a common faith, and a common ethnic ancestry." Since MLP:FiM is already a world where nations are defined by species, it is difficult to distinguish a nationalist in MLP from an ethno-nationalist. But when Twilight says, "Friendship isn't just for ponies!," Neighsay replies, "It should be." Neighsay's logic begins with species identity, which then proceeds to nationalism and traditionalism. His value of traditionalism causes his bureaucratism, since he is averse to "changing the rules" [pt. 2]. 

School Daze pt. 1 began with an expanding map, and with Twilight proclaiming that the Mane 6 need to spread friendship "beyond Equestria" by bringing new friends from distant lands into Equestria. This need stems from her realization that "the world is full of so many different creatures who know nothing about friendship" [pt. 1]. Twilight's line that "different creatures" from beyond Equestria "know nothing about friendship" is strange in an episode where the antagonist represents racism, since it implies that the ponies as a species have a very basic socio-moral cultural element that others lack. Still, her solution is to bring in foreigners that the bureaucrats deem dangerous, ultimately using her royal authority to circumvent the bureaucrats' opinions.

The clearest ideological statement Twilight gives is in her hearing in pt. 1: "If we want to keep our land safe, and create a friendlier tomorrow, we need to teach the Magic of Friendship far and wide." She agrees with Neighsay in holding national safety as a goal, but wants to achieve it through international cooperation.

At first I was very confused how to reconcile the vilification of nationalism with Twilight's use of royal authority to bypass a bureaucratic process, since valuing monarchy often implies valuing nationalism. However, I think some of that can be explained by saying that the episode supports globalism. I should define this ideological term, since it is often thrown around as an angry buzzword. By globalism here I mean support for globalization, the process of politically, economically, culturally, etc. integrating nations and cultures around the globe. Traditionalism, nationalism, and racism are each opposed to at least some form of such integration. If Neighsay as a character is taken as a Strawman Political symbolizing nationalists, the episode is making the controversial (but not uncommon) claim that nationalism stems from racism and should therefore be condemned because it stands in the way of international cooperation.

I found it so interesting that the villain represented bureaucratism because I have seen certain conspiracy theorists lump bureaucratism and globalism together as one big enemy. However, I found an ideology that approves of globalism even though it is averse to bureaucracy: neoliberalism. While it has been thrown around as a vague and vitriolic buzzword as well, neoliberalism generally implies support for free-market capitalism and a government with only the functions needed to ensure that the market runs effectively. It favors unrestricted movement of goods and people across borders in a global capitalist system. A common complaint among free-market capitalism supporters is that government bureaucracies impose too much regulation, which was reflected in this episode. 

My only reservations calling the episode "neoliberal" are that Twilight's bypassing bureaucratic authority with royal authority is still government action, and that there is no kind of capitalist free market prominent in this particular episode. To the extent that globalism implies centralization of power, there is a possible but weak explanation that the episode's globalism makes it support that the chief executive of a government use executive orders to overcome bureaucratic opposition. However, it is clearer that the episode's characterization of nationalism and racism in the villain, the implicit condemnation of nationalism through association with racism, and the explicit support for diversity and multiculturalism (e.g. the "overcoming differences" mentioned at the trial) as well as for the immigration of "dangerous creatures" show support for globalism. 

I considered naming this post "Does School Daze Promote Neoliberal Globalism?," but then overcame my temptation to commit the sin of egregious clickbait.

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Mesme Rize

I seriously don't give a fuck.

Equestria and the very world this show was build around is very idealistic, since the very beginning of the show.

The fact that since yesterday people are doing left vs. right arguments is stupid as hell and just causes conflict for no reason.

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Brony Number 42

I have not seen the episode yet, but I will comment on what you wrote. I object to the idea that nationalism = racism. I'm not saying that you made that connection, but you seem to say that the episode made that connection. And I know that a lot of people make that claim.

My general premise is that it is important to preserve and protect your own nation, as a culture and ideology, and that it is fine to welcome other species as long as they agree with your ideology. I think that Neighsay is correct to be concerned about other nations. It has already been established that the dragons are not friendly toward the ponies. It is only the lucky fact that Ember is friendly that keeps the dragons from totally destroying Equestria. Even if the situation is not that extreme, it is easy to imagine a new, more aggressive leader of the dragons, who doesn't care about ponies. What happens then?

It's all fine and good to foster peace with other nations, but there comes times when other nations do not believe what you believe, and they want nothing more than to destroy you. Think Storm King. You will love and tolerate your way into slavery.

I have commented in a different topic about the idea of using royal authority to bypass bureaucracy. This is the definition of tyranny. If Twilight, or any other "princess," can just use her "authority" to do whatever she wants, then that is arbitrary rule with no due process. There is no point in having a political process. No point in having elections. By the way, has Mayor Mare been mayor for decades? That always breeds cronyism and corruption. A free society has a limited government with established laws and due process. If someone thinks that a bureaucracy has gone too far then there should be a process to fix that. Twilight would take that to the courts or something. Why should any pony be granted a life long "princess" status? What does that even mean? Who made them rulers of anything? I think, a long time ago, Celestia had the brilliant idea of claiming that she raised the sun and ponies believed it.

We see too often in the show that ponies go to one authority to solve their problems. The "Princess of Friendship" (a position created solely as a political favor) is supposed to arbitrate on every little problem that the ponies have. Why? There should already be clear laws for such things.

Speaking of cronyism, will Flurryheart become "princess" too? Why is there hereditary rule? Why should one pony get to become rich and powerful just because of their parents? Maybe some earth pony has great ideas, let them have a chance.

I have not heard about neoliberalism, and I am skeptical of its veracity. I think there is a tendency for large governments to drift toward tyranny, rather than preserve free markets. I can't imagine what a global government in MLP would look like. I would think such an overmind would decide it knew what is best for everyone and it would impose its will onto the population. "You WILL love and tolerate!"

Edited by BronyNumber42licious
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Denim&Venöm

I don't see it as bypassing bureaucracy as creating an alternative. Twilight didn't use her clout to grant her school EEA approval over Neighsay. She created her own system outside the EEA. It's not just her right as a princess. Anyone can choose to operate outside any established system and create their own standards. It was more a move of independent action rather than authority. 

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Night Shine
12 hours ago, Mesme Rize said:

I seriously don't give a fuck

Fine by me. I simply thought that it would be interesting to take a look at the ideologies implicit in the episode, and might generate some interesting discussion. 

12 hours ago, Mesme Rize said:

The fact that since yesterday people are doing left vs. right arguments is stupid as hell and just causes conflict for no reason

That is why I tried to avoid value judgments in the post. Hopefully it is not likely to cause conflict that makes anyone angry or hurt.

6 hours ago, Denim&Venom said:

I don't see it as bypassing bureaucracy [so much] as creating an alternative. Twilight didn't use her clout to grant her school EEA approval over Neighsay. She created her own system outside the EEA … Anyone can choose to operate outside any established system and create their own standards

Good point. However, Twilight is still rejecting the EEA's claim to authority over all Equestrian schools, which I think "bypasses" them in an important sense. As a Princess, Twilight gave herself the right to open a school outside of the EEA's jurisdiction. To use an analogy, imagine the President going to Congress with a request, having it denied, and then using an executive order to make their own institution which carries out the request and answers only to the President. 

9 hours ago, BronyNumber42licious said:

Neighsay is correct to be concerned about other nations…It's all fine and good to foster peace with other nations, but there comes times when other nations do not believe what you believe, and they want nothing more than to destroy you. Think Storm King. You will love and tolerate your way into slavery

As she described in her hearing in pt. 1, the whole reason Twilight wanted to open her School of Friendship was to spread the ideology of friendship in other nations to prevent them from becoming dangerous. On Earth, one may rationally fear the tolerance paradox, where tolerating intolerance only allows it to grow stronger. But in MLP, friendship can be harnessed as a literal weapon to defeat enemies, largely resolving the paradox by providing a method to address intolerance.

9 hours ago, BronyNumber42licious said:

I have commented in a different topic about the idea of using royal authority to bypass bureaucracy. This is the definition of tyranny…has Mayor Mare been mayor for decades? That always breeds cronyism and corruption. A free society has a limited government with established laws and due process…Why should any pony be granted a life long "princess" status? What does that even mean?

Normally I would totally agree with you about the flaws of an arbitrary monarchical rule with absolute power, but the distinction between real and MLP politics plays an interesting role here. Two of the most powerful arguments against a monarchy in real life are that 1) even if the monarch is benevolent, they eventually have to die, and their successor may not be benevolent; and 2) power corrupts. Point (1) does not apply to immortal Princesses, and point (2) – being a contingent psychological fact – may not apply to characters who are guided by the influence of Harmony, the "telos" of Equestria (which I discussed in my last post).

There is a genuine question as to what extent liberal-democratic values should be applied to the society seen in MLP. James Madison said, "what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary" [Federalist #51]. It is an open question whether Celestia and Twilight et al., guided as they are by Harmony, count as such "angels."

9 hours ago, BronyNumber42licious said:

Who ma[d]e them rulers of anything?

Harmony did, I think.

9 hours ago, BronyNumber42licious said:

We see too often in the show that ponies go to one authority to solve there problems. The "Princess of Friendship" (a position created solely as a political favor) is supposed to arbitrate on every little problem that the ponies have. Why? There should already be clear laws for such things

For the sake of argument I will flip the question around: why should there be clear laws if Harmony and the Princesses will always be there? You could argue that Luna shows that even Princesses are corruptible, but even in Luna's case Harmony brought her back.

9 hours ago, BronyNumber42licious said:

Speaking of cronyism, will Flurryheart become "princess" too? Why is there hereditary rule? Why should one pony get to become rich and powerful just because of their parents? Maybe some earth pony has great ideas, let them have a chance

This is, I think, a very good critique. I earlier mentioned that MLP only avoids the problems with monarchy if it avoids the largely-arbitrary succession, but hereditary succession would bring those problems rearing back.

9 hours ago, BronyNumber42licious said:

I have not heard about neolib[e]ralism, and I am skeptical of [its] veracity. I think there is a tendency for large governments to drift toward tyranny, rather than preserve free markets

I think that neoliberals generally oppose "large governments," if by that term you mean governments which heavily interfere in the economy. Remember, neoliberalism is first and foremost free-market capitalist.

9 hours ago, BronyNumber42licious said:

I can't imagine what a global government in MLP would look like. I would think such an overmind would decide it knew what is best for everyone and it would impose its will onto the population. "You WILL love and tolerate!"

While I agree that a micromanaging global government could go terribly wrong in many ways, it could be cool to have an analogue for the UN in MLP. It also might help stabilize things.

Edited by Night Shine
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Denim&Venöm

. 

7 minutes ago, Night Shine said:

Good point. However, Twilight is still rejecting the EEA's claim to authority over all Equestrian schools, which I think "bypasses" them in an important sense. As a Princess, Twilight gave herself the right to open a school outside of the EEA's jurisdiction. To use an analogy, imagine the President going to Congress with a request, having it denied, and then using an executive order to make their own institution which carries out the request and answers only to the President. 

Not quite an accurate example. 

Twilight didn't use her rank to usurp Neighsay. Anyone can build a school and reject EEA guidelines. They'll just face a lack of acceptance and resources operating outside of a widely accepted social institution. 

It's more akin to printing your own type of currency. You can do it, but the majority of institutions won't accept it. Value will exist only from those who choose to value it. And that's the case with Twi. She's making a new school with no institutional recognition, backing or acceptance, but value is still placed on it thanks to the endorsement of the international community. The only thing Twi's rank does change is the resources she has in making her school a viable alternative and competitor to other EEA schools. 

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