In this episode we meet Worf's cheeky foster brother as he compels our protagonists to help a population that they would otherwise leave to harm under a principle of non-interference. What obligation does an advanced, space faring people have towards those they encounter?

Join us for a discussion of an eerily prescient episode, asking moral questions in 1994 that would soon be grappled with as the US and its allies intervened in Somalia, Kosovo, Iraq, and elsewhere.

Hosts:

Dr. Faiz Sheikh

Dr. Sarah Bulmer

Dr. Dan Watson

Star Trek episode list for watching along:

Podcast episode 1: The Measure of a Man, S2EP9

Podcast episode 2: Q Who, S2EP16

Podcast episode 3: The Drumhead, S4EP21

Podcast episode 4: The Outcast, S5EP7

Podcast episode 5: I, Borg, S5EP23

Podcast episode 6: Force of Nature, S7EP9

Podcast episode 7: Homeward, S7EP13

Podcast episode 8: Preemptive Strike, S7EP24

Podcast episode 9: Journey's End, S7EP20

Music and effects:

Space Fanfare - Cinematic Orchestral Music (Star Trek Inspired) by humanoide9000 -- https://freesound.org/s/744049/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

RedAlert_Klaxon_STTOS_recreated.wav by zimbot -- https://freesound.org/s/178032/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Teleport Sound by Breviceps -- https://freesound.org/s/453390/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Episode notes

In this episode we explore a region of the galaxy where the fabric of space is being damaged by the very method of space travel used by The Enterprise. The scientists who have made this startling discovery have to resort to direct action to force a response from otherwise sluggish political actors. A climate change episode? You bet! Still relevant 34 years after it first aired? Depressingly, probably also yes.

Join us for a discussion of International Relations, Star Trek, climate change and fossil fuels.

Hosts:

Dr. Faiz Sheikh

Dr. Sarah Bulmer

Dr. Dan Watson

Star Trek episode list for watching along:

Podcast episode 1: The Measure of a Man, S2EP9

Podcast episode 2: Q Who, S2EP16

Podcast episode 3: The Drumhead, S4EP21

Podcast episode 4: The Outcast, S5EP7

Podcast episode 5: I, Borg, S5EP23

Podcast episode 6: Force of Nature, S7EP9

Podcast episode 7: Homeward, S7EP13

Podcast episode 8: Preemptive Strike, S7EP24

Podcast episode 9: Journey's End, S7EP20

Music and effects:

Space Fanfare - Cinematic Orchestral Music (Star Trek Inspired) by humanoide9000 -- https://freesound.org/s/744049/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

RedAlert_Klaxon_STTOS_recreated.wav by zimbot -- https://freesound.org/s/178032/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Teleport Sound by Breviceps -- https://freesound.org/s/453390/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

In this episode we unpack questions of legitimate use of force under liberalism, and perhaps how the 'other' can discover ‘our’ liberal individualism and free themselves from their oppressive power structures.

Join us for a discussion of International Relations, Star Trek, mass violence, and Cold War analogies.

Hosts:

Dr. Faiz Sheikh

Dr. Sarah Bulmer

Dr. Dan Watson

Star Trek episode list for watching along:

Podcast episode 1: The Measure of a Man, S2EP9

Podcast episode 2: Q Who, S2EP16

Podcast episode 3: The Drumhead, S4EP21

Podcast episode 4: The Outcast, S5EP7

Podcast episode 5: I, Borg, S5EP23

Podcast episode 6: Force of Nature, S7EP9

Podcast episode 7: Homeward, S7EP13

Podcast episode 8: Preemptive Strike, S7EP24

Podcast episode 9: Journey's End, S7EP20

Music and effects:

Space Fanfare - Cinematic Orchestral Music (Star Trek Inspired) by humanoide9000 -- https://freesound.org/s/744049/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

RedAlert_Klaxon_STTOS_recreated.wav by zimbot -- https://freesound.org/s/178032/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Teleport Sound by Breviceps -- https://freesound.org/s/453390/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

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This episode we navigate sexuality and gender, 1992 style. We explore an alien society which is apparently genderless. What happens when one of them falls in love with one of the Enterprise crew? What does gender and sexuality have to do with power in society?

Join us for a discussion of International Relations, Star Trek, and the central place of gender relations in world politics.

Hosts:

Dr. Faiz Sheikh

Dr. Sarah Bulmer

Dr. Dan Watson

Star Trek episode list for watching along:

Podcast episode 1: The Measure of a Man, S2EP9

Podcast episode 2: Q Who, S2EP16

Podcast episode 3: The Drumhead, S4EP21

Podcast episode 4: The Outcast, S5EP7

Podcast episode 5: I, Borg, S5EP23

Podcast episode 6: Force of Nature, S7EP9

Podcast episode 7: Homeward, S7EP13

Podcast episode 8: Preemptive Strike, S7EP24

Podcast episode 9: Journey's End, S7EP20

Music and effects:

Space Fanfare - Cinematic Orchestral Music (Star Trek Inspired) by humanoide9000 -- https://freesound.org/s/744049/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

RedAlert_Klaxon_STTOS_recreated.wav by zimbot -- https://freesound.org/s/178032/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Teleport Sound by Breviceps -- https://freesound.org/s/453390/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

In this episode we explore the trade offs between security and liberty in the 24th Century, and its eerie parallels to similar themes during the War on Terror. With spies and enemies abound, how much is too much, in the defence of freedom?

Join us for a discussion of International Relations, Star Trek, security and rights.

Hosts:

Dr. Faiz Sheikh

Dr. Sarah Bulmer

Dr. Dan Watson

Star Trek episode list for watching along:

Podcast episode 1: The Measure of a Man, S2EP9

Podcast episode 2: Q Who, S2EP16

Podcast episode 3: The Drumhead, S4EP21

Podcast episode 4: The Outcast, S5EP7

Podcast episode 5: I, Borg, S5EP23

Podcast episode 6: Force of Nature, S7EP9

Podcast episode 7: Homeward, S7EP13

Podcast episode 8: Preemptive Strike, S7EP24

Podcast episode 9: Journey's End, S7EP20

Music and effects:

Space Fanfare - Cinematic Orchestral Music (Star Trek Inspired) by humanoide9000 -- https://freesound.org/s/744049/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

RedAlert_Klaxon_STTOS_recreated.wav by zimbot -- https://freesound.org/s/178032/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Teleport Sound by Breviceps -- https://freesound.org/s/453390/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Hide

This episode we encounter an existential threat to the liberal individualism of our protagonists: The Borg. What makes them so terrifying? Communist-style collectivism, or the loss of individuality brought on by neoliberalism?

Join us for a discussion of International Relations, Star Trek, and the politics of the Cold War on the TV screen.

Hosts:

Dr. Faiz Sheikh

Dr. Sarah Bulmer

Dr. Dan Watson

Star Trek episode list for watching along:

Podcast episode 1: The Measure of a Man, S2EP9

Podcast episode 2: Q Who, S2EP16

Podcast episode 3: The Drumhead, S4EP21

Podcast episode 4: The Outcast, S5EP7

Podcast episode 5: I, Borg, S5EP23

Podcast episode 6: Force of Nature, S7EP9

Podcast episode 7: Homeward, S7EP13

Podcast episode 8: Preemptive Strike, S7EP24

Podcast episode 9: Journey's End, S7EP20

Music and effects:

Space Fanfare - Cinematic Orchestral Music (Star Trek Inspired) by humanoide9000 -- https://freesound.org/s/744049/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

RedAlert_Klaxon_STTOS_recreated.wav by zimbot -- https://freesound.org/s/178032/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Teleport Sound by Breviceps -- https://freesound.org/s/453390/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Episode Notes:

This week we witness the tribunal to decide if the android Mr. Data is sentient, and a holder of rights, or if he is a glorified toaster, and nothing more than property.

Join us for a discussion of International Relations, Star Trek, race, and rights.

Hosts:

Dr. Faiz Sheikh

Dr. Sarah Bulmer

Dr. Dan Watson

Star Trek episode list for watching along:

Podcast episode 1: The Measure of a Man, S2EP9

Podcast episode 2: Q Who, S2EP16

Podcast episode 3: The Drumhead, S4EP21

Podcast episode 4: The Outcast, S5EP7

Podcast episode 5: I, Borg, S5EP23

Podcast episode 6: Force of Nature, S7EP9

Podcast episode 7: Homeward, S7EP13

Podcast episode 8: Preemptive Strike, S7EP24

Podcast episode 9: Journey's End, S7EP20

Music and effects:

Space Fanfare - Cinematic Orchestral Music (Star Trek Inspired) by humanoide9000 -- https://freesound.org/s/744049/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

RedAlert_Klaxon_STTOS_recreated.wav by zimbot -- https://freesound.org/s/178032/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Teleport Sound by Breviceps -- https://freesound.org/s/453390/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

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In this brief episode we cover the premise and main characters of Star Trek the Next Generation, and how it intersects with the academic study of International Relations.

Hosts:

Dr. Faiz Sheikh

Dr. Sarah Bulmer

Dr. Dan Watson

Star Trek episode list for watching along:

Podcast episode 1: The Measure of a Man, S2EP9

Podcast episode 2: Q Who, S2EP16

Podcast episode 3: The Drumhead, S4EP21

Podcast episode 4: The Outcast, S5EP7

Podcast episode 5: I, Borg, S5EP23

Podcast episode 6: Force of Nature, S7EP9

Podcast episode 7: Homeward, S7EP13

Podcast episode 8: Preemptive Strike, S7EP24

Podcast episode 9: Journey's End, S7EP20

Music and effects:

Space Fanfare - Cinematic Orchestral Music (Star Trek Inspired) by humanoide9000 -- https://freesound.org/s/744049/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

RedAlert_Klaxon_STTOS_recreated.wav by zimbot -- https://freesound.org/s/178032/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Teleport Sound by Breviceps -- https://freesound.org/s/453390/ -- License: Creative Commons 0