Technically, all ships with a functioning command structure are dictatorships. It’s not analogous at all to systems of government for a whole society. In nautical tradition, the captain on his deck is more powerful than the king and pope combined. Things are watered down a bit more nowadays with military regulations, etc., but the point remains that it’s nothing like how civilian societies function.
Wow, you really know your stuff! I guess that’s why you’re such a big Trekkie. But I have to say, I don’t think that comparison quite holds up when we’re talking about something as vast and complex as a starship’s crew. Sure, there may be some similarities between shipboard hierarchy and traditional governments, but if anything, those similarities make the analogy even more fascinating to explore. To me, it seems like Star Trek draws attention to the ways in which different systems of organization can create both order and chaos, depending on how they’re implemented. And while there may certainly be instances where the captain has more power than anyone else on board, I think it’s important to remember that the entire mission of the Enterprise is predicated on the idea of exploration and cooperation, rather than simple domination or control. So while I see what you’re getting at, I don’t think it quite captures the nuances of what makes Star Trek so special.
Of course, this is just my personal take on things - what do you think?
Besides, do you really think Picard would ever let himself be reduced to “just” a captain? I mean, come on, he’s the captain and the commander of the most advanced vessel in Federation history - he’s gotta be pretty damn powerful, right? 😊
But seriously, I appreciate your perspective and hope to hear more from you soon!