DRAFT

After consultation with stakeholders and thought leaders, the Interplanetary Assembly's Select Committee for the the Exploration of Space beyond Guo's Star have established the following guidelines to govern the contact between exploratory missions and civilizations whose social and technological conditions are very different from those prevailing in the Allied Worlds.

Introduction

The Committee recognizes that judging civilizations to be more or less "advanced" necessarily involves a value judgement, and such standards as may be established for social advancement will reflect the historical development, values and mores of our own culture. Notwithstanding, the Committee has determined that, in light of history, some standards of this type are needed to inform the decision made to contact, or not contact, a culture with extremely different technical or organizational capacities. The overriding goal of these standards and associated guidelines is to promote mutually beneficial outcomes for both civilizations. All interactions must be both consistent with our own values and, as far as can practically be foreseen, beneficial for both parties. At the same time, inordinate caution must not be allowed to deny them the benefits of contact when appropriate.

These guidelines were developed in relation to human civilizations; the Committee has developed largely analogous guidelines for Biran. (The Social Advancement / Scope criterion is inapplicable to Biran societies, which are instead rated on the efficiency of their jurisdictional arrangements. Should an analogous human civilization be discovered, it may be useful to rate it using the Biran scale.) If other sentient or possibly sentient species are encountered, all caution should be exercised, and the initiation of contact should be avoided unless it is clearly necessary for the completion of mission aims.

Definition: Social Advancement

The Committee defines social advancement as a civilization's progress toward a just, peaceful, and harmonious social structure which is respectful of its individual members and enjoys their broad support. Advanced societies direct the efforts of their members towards mutually advantageous goals while respecting their liberties and personal choices.

A point scale is defined in relation to five key areas in which the organization of civilization can be approximately rated: Scope, Human Rights, Rule of Law, Economy, and Freedom.

Definition: Technological Advancement

The Committee defines technological advancement as a civilization's capacity to apply scientific and engineering knowledge to control its material environment and circumstances.

A point scale is defined in relation to five key areas in which technology is applied to address the needs of people: Nutrition, Communications, Transportation, Computation, and Energy.

Categories of Contact

The Committee recognizes that contact with a civilization can take place on a variety of levels, ranging from observation only, to free cultural and technological interchange. The degree of contact recommended by the guidelines is based on the definitions of technological and social advancement above, but personnel must at all times use their best judgement in the application of these recommendations, regarding obtaining a mutually beneficial outcome as paramount. If it is unlikely that one will be obtained, contact should not be initiated at the recommended level. Conversely, if some exigent circumstance appears to justify a higher level of contact, due consideration should be given to it as an option. Personnel are expected to apply the guidelines intelligently and critically, especially if the civilization to which they are applied appears to be following an atypical course of development.

Distant Observation (DO) - Precontact I

This is the minimal level from which the technological and social development of the civilization can be begin to be assessed.

The mission attempts to gain information about the civilization by passive means: photography from orbit, atmospheric spectroscopy, monitoring electromagnetic emissions, etc. No attempt at communication is initiated. Other actions which would tend to make the presence of the mission known to the civilization (e.g. orbiting their planet) are avoided if practical.

If Distant Observation suggests a civilization may be suitable for contact, the contact can be advanced to Passive Observation.

Passive Observation (PO) - Precontact II

Intensive attempts are made to study the civilization scientifically, but without attempts to communicate. Stealthy drones and other suitable means may be used to record languages and make anthropological observations. The overriding goals are to collect scientific data and to accurately grade the social and technical advancement of the society to inform the contact decision.

Limited Scientific Contact (LSC)

If the civilization is determined to be unsuitable for more extensive contact or its level of advancement is not clear after PO, but it is sufficiently tolerant of "foreigners," limited contact can be considered. This would be appropriate only if there are scientific or economic justifications for further study of the civilization or its host environment. Otherwise, it is usually better to leave the civilization to its own devices and avoid the risks inherent. Under LSC, mission personnel will adopt a cover story appropriate to the cultural context and present themselves as visitors, e.g. from a distant land.

Trade goods and gifts appropriate to the civilization may be exchanged. Personnel are to keep necessary use of superior technology discrete. In general, respect for local customs (even if regressive) should be be maintained to avoid confrontation.

Guidelines for Contact with Less Advanced Civilizations

Appendix: Select Committee Composition

Select Committee members:

• Chel Ferrari [SMP], at-large Representative of Heidelberg, chair of the Select Committee.
• Wen Burach [SMP], representing Outer Gren, Federal States of Greater Iridia.
• Dr. Yiths Tensol [PCP], Representing the Larsa Free State Polar Provinces, Larsa.

• Upper-Manipulation-Appendages Hero¹ [IND], representing the Unified Compacts for the Propagation of the Species, Water Planet of Iridia.

• John Dotcom [SP], Representing the Central Committee of Mars.
• Mira Huang-Wong [PUD], Representing the Union of Dirac.
• Preeta Cerro [DSP], Representing the Orbital Commonwealth of Thane.

• Pattern-of-Markings Fortune²[IND], representing the Unified Compacts for Trading with Outsiders, Water Planet of Iridia

Principal advisers to the Committee:

• Dr. High-Spatial-Frequecy-Eyes Plankton³, Prebhurts Endowed Professor for Interspecies Ethics, Human-Accessible University of the Higher Education Compact of Mid-Deep 47, Water Planet of Iridia.

• Adm. Clara Hamstroj, Allied Worlds Space Force.
• Her Grace the Archbishop of Susa, Melody Kim.
• Dr. M. Simon al-Larsi, Chair of the Department of Anthropology, All Thane Research University.
• Selwai, Nuncio of the Thomist Lama.
• Wiry Son of Threads, Minister of Industry, Southcap.
• Dr. Mar Song, Professor Emerita, Peters Historian Laureate, Public University of Roinmeh.
• Sir Ed Weatherby-Potts-Frito, Chief Executive Officer, Allied Nanomaterials.

• Dr. Low-Viscosity-Screen-Ink Abyss⁴

• Col. (Ret, AFUD) Samuel Bo, Union Academy of Iolo, Center for Foreign Relations.