Freelancer as Social Commentary

[Ayatolah]

The Corsairs represent the militancy of Mediterranean pirates during the colonial era, preying on valuable shipping from the Americas and taking it for themselves, while the countries to which they belonged suffered from being largely left behind by the other European powers. They also represent, through artifacts, a rich cultural heritage and the past of their lands being filled with the great and powerful. You only need to look at the history of Greece, Italy and Northern Africa to understand that each held its own great Empire at one point.

The Outcasts represent late 20th century South America, the hub of narcotic production and the vengeance which they may hold against American and other western communities for exploiting their continent for cheap labour, wealth and raw materials. This is represented by the anger they all hold towards the houses, for what they view as sabotage of their chances in Sirius, and their view that Cardamine is the way to gain ultimate control over the populace.
I would suggest that these are mostly familliar to anybody who takes an interest in world affairs, so I would go on to say that as a social commentary, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri provides much more meat on which to chew. It even provides seven social archetypes, complete for you to analyse and judge.

I can give my personal opinion on that as spanish that i am....

Corsairs: Well, reflects VERY well a "dark age" Spain, the corsair empire has taints of the middle ages, Franco's Dictatorship,etc.. lack of food, higiene, and felony everywhere, each life worths nothing while the powerful are growing fat, no wonders why the population is impelled to piracy in any form, since they lack even the basics. Also, reflecs the classical tough minded, hard-boiled spanish, well reflected by some 'sair factions (even if they struggle to look like mexicans), as well of the mentioned by McNeo

OCs: Well...besides the piracy and else depicts very well the modern Spain..advanced, but unfortunately lack or moral rules and decadent...i didn't thougt on what McNeo said, since South Americans should have gone in the Liberty and not the Hispania, but the drug cartels fits them too

As for the Junkers... well some people say they fit the gipsy clans.... i second that:)I have meet many of them, even some friends among them, "chatarra" (scrap metal) and anything able to commerce are their game.....

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