Basic Trope: "The Federation": United, good, and reasonable.
- Straight: A federal republic of several governments, united for peace and democracy. Everyone has a decent standard of living, and is better off than most other nations.
- Exaggerated:
- A federal republic that spans the galaxy / universe, all formally united to promote peace and prosperity. Their technology is highly advanced, and is practically a utopia.
- Several federations unite into a super-federation, synergistically improving each other.
- Downplayed: Despite being united under a Federal government and work towards common goals, the individual nations of the Troper Confederacy have a great deal of autonomy. Their technology and standard of living isn't too different from anyone else.
- Justified:
- United during a time of war, the singular nations of The Alliance decide to form a Federation to coordinate their continued co-operation.
- A formerly unitary country devolved so that each region could practice its own culture while maintaining overall unity.
- Inverted:
- Dominated by one superpower, the so-called Federation extracts tribute from its member worlds. Using these funds, the leading government uses it to engage in wars of conquest. Subjected nations are poor and ill-treated.
- Alternatively, The Emperor works diligently to weed out corruption and ensure the highest practical standard of living for his citizens. The Empire is well known for its elegant diplomacy and interest in exploration over conquest.
- Subverted:
- The Federation is a bureaucratic, corrupt government that cares more about rules and regulations than its people.
- Colonies want to leave the Federation, believing they are better suited to rule themselves independently. Despite their general benevolence, the Federation disagrees and attempts to forcibly reassert control.
- Colonies in the Federation have no rights and poor living conditions compared to the core of the Federation.
- The Federation is a federation of several governments, united for peace and democracy. Everyone has a decent standard of living, and is better off than most other nations. But it isn't a republic. In fact, it isn't called a federation, but an Empire. It's a federal monarchy, with an Emperor ruling over various kings, dukes, princes, etc. Thus it is the Federation and the Empire at the same time.
- Everything is sunshine and roses...then Elysium seizes control of The Federation, and forcibly takes control of all its colonies. The story is about Faye trying to overthrow The Federation and defeat Elysium to free the colonies from her.
- Double Subverted:
- After decades of corruption, a series of reforms returns the Federation to full benevolence.
- The Colonies that want independence are planning to embrace malevolent principles such as slavery or racism. To defend human rights, the Federation clamps down on the rebels.
- After a series of peaceful movements, the Federation decides to help its colonies improve their economies.
- The empire officially becomes a federation.
- Parodied:
- The United Allied Federation of Confederations was originally formed to speed up pizza delivery times.
- Rather than being the Big Good, the Federation is portrayed as a bumbling Kindhearted Simpleton of nations, always trying to do the right thing in spite of overwhelming odds and succeeding in a comedic way. Even its topmost leading figure is a robot or alien who looks/acts like a Charlie Chaplin Shout-Out!
- Zig Zagged:
- Thanks to the byzantine politics of the Federation, its nature is ambiguous or constantly changing.
- The Federation is founded...and then dissolved...and then re-founded...and then re-dissolved...etc.
- Averted: A standard space opera does not have an analog of the Federation, with all the major governments divided against each other.
- Enforced: The Writer needs good guys for his space opera, plus a paragon of civilization. So he creates a Federation to fulfill both roles.
- Lampshaded: "Good thing all these Federations are ruled by nice people."
- Invoked: An idealist lobbies for the formation of the Federation, hoping it will be bring about peace.
- Exploited:
- A Merchant Prince expands his shipping fleet, knowing that the new Federation's peace and prosperity will also increase trade.
- A savvy politician takes advantage of the new Federation to gain increased prestige.
- The Empire enters into a suite of high profile treaties, knowing that being the centre of the Federation will be good PR.
- The Republic signs a peace treaty with the Federation, figuring that such a strong and benevolent power would be a very good ally.
- Once the Federation is formed, smaller nations decide to join to guarantee their own protection.
- Defied:
- The Warlord attempts to stop the Federation from forming, as it would pose a united threat to his forces.
- Nationalists try to disrupt the formation of the Federation. They see it as a threat to their national identity.
- Discussed: The characters discuss the benefits and ideas of the Federation.
- Conversed: "You'd think with all that advanced technology, the Union would finally put some seat-belts for their spaceships."
- Implied: The Interstellar Choir is a federal republic, has high standards of living, advanced technology, and their main colors are blue and white.
- Deconstructed: The Federation is too idealistic, bureaucratic and inflexible. They're unwilling to call out The Empire when treaties are violated, for fear of war breaking out. In their quest to provide every single citizen an equal standard of living, they run out of money and the economy suffers. Used to luxury and peace, society decays into decadency and corruption - squandering their resources and allowing Corrupt Corporate Executives and/or radical ideologues to dominate the government instead of actually progressing. The resulting hypocrisy and perceived arrogance("The Federation is better than anyone else!") alienates other nations.
- Reconstructed: Though pacifistic, the Federation is willing to fight back to defend it's principles and peoples, though it prefers diplomacy first. Instead of the Federation providing for everyone, social institutions help people to grow and support themselves. Cultural movements reject decadence and apathy, encouraging others to focus on spiritual and scholarly endeavors. The Federation does all that it can do to provide foreign aid to those in need.
- Played For Drama: Even though the Federation was founded to promote peace and diplomacy, The Empire portrays it as a threat and uses that as an excuse to declare war.
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