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[Star Trek] What's the philosophical difference between Romulans and Cardassians?

In DS9 S7E20 ("The Changing Face of Evil") a Cardassian aid of Dumar's says "Doesn't seem right, all this plotting and secrecy... what are we, Romulans?" As far as I can see, the Cardassians love plotting and secrecy just as much as the Romulans, or at least, use it as much. They both have vast empires wherein loyalty is incredibly important, the state is super powerful, big spy networks are super powerful, etc. So where do they really differ, goals/values wise?
gpt
#History

**The Cardassians** used to be a peaceful people: artitistic and cultured. For whatever reason, they ran out of resources. We don't know what these resources were. Perhaps food. Perhaps water. Perhaps energy-producing resources. This threw the Cardassian people into chaos and out of that chaos, a military state emerged. At the time, it served a good purpose: it established order and kept them living. In order to continue living, they needed to reorder their society. Freedoms were lost. Archaeological sites were plundered. Neighboring systems were conquered.

At some point, that level of control was no longer needed. After all, you can't command a large interstellar empire with a lack of resources. But the damage to the Cardassian way-of-life was done. Like a person who grew up in the Great Depression, they would always be of the mindset that their society was on the brink of collapse but for access to resources. Even though they didn't need them anymore to survive, they would operate under the paranoid fear that unless they continued gathering them, they would lose them and die off. This explains their consistent grabs for power, constantly gobbling up planets in any way they can: subjugating less advanced nations, politically maneuvering more advances ones. Whatever expands their influence.

**The Romulans** were born in chaos. The descended from the Vulcan people during a time of great strife. Like the Cardassians, their society was on the brink of collapse and desperately needed order. For the Vulcans, they decided on order, not through military strength, but through mental discipline. Some Vulcans rejected this path broke away, becoming the Romulans. Instead of supressing their emotions, they embraced them.

Romulans operate under a single belief: They are superior. They are stronger and more cunning than humans, more disciplined than Klingons, more passionate than Vulcans. This view fuels their isolationist stance: no other race has anything to offer them. What they want, they take.

#Government

**The Cardassian** government was run by the military for a long while, until a coup established the civilian Detapa Council. This was shortlived, however, as it was eventually replaced by a Dominion puppet state. Loyalty to the state was not simply enforced at phaser-point, but baked into Cardassian culture. The highest form of literature was that of the repetative epic, which interated a family's dynastic servitude to the state.

**The Romulans** have an ostensibly democratic state. There is a senate and, presumably, elections. In any event, it is run by civilian leaders who are often at odds with the military commanders (who have significant political sway in their own right). Loyalty to the state is not as integrated into Romulan society. While outright sedition is not permitted, Romulans can, and have, criticized aspects of their government. Dissidents are hunted and persecuted, yes, but Romulan commanders can also openly defy the dreaded Tal Shiar (at least on their own ship). The relationship between the government, military, intelligence, and civilians is not as unified as with Cardassians.

#The Spies

**The Obsidian Order** is a non-militaristic intelligence agency that is considered the best in the galaxy. They specialize in gathering information, most likely to find and eliminate any possible opposition to the Cardassian way of life. The Order has eyes and ears all over the galaxy.

**The Tal Shiar** is a military order that focuses on internal security. While ostensibly an intelligence agency (and not one to scoff at), it often relies on brute methods to achieve their goals.

In the end, there are vast differences between Romauls and Cardassians. Cardassians are self-confident to the point of arrogance, often underestimating their foes, but do not necessarily consider themselves superior to all others. They are charismatic and deadly, a smile to distract from the dagger in your back. Romulans are haughty and see no value in other species. They express emotions but the most likely emotional response you'll get from one is disdain. In contrast to the Cardassian smile, you'll get a disappointed Romulan frown who will just as soon phaser you in the face.

Plotting and secrecy? These are just many of the double-standard concepts used by different races. To a Cardassian it is good when it is done in a Cardassian manner for Cardassian reasons. It is noble and honorable and it is the fault of the enemy if they are too dull to see it coming. It is weak and cowardly when done by someone else, who lacks the conviction and strength to just take what they want.