優性人類生存説
THEORY ON THE SURVIVAL OF THE SUPERIOR RACE

The “Theory on the Survival of the Superior Race,” penned by Gihren Zabi and published in 0071, presents itself as a trade book, but in reality, it would be better characterized as a propagandistic document of the Principality’s government, stoking the political fires of an increasingly powerful Gihren Zabi.

Gihren Zabi’s father, Degwin Zabi, after the death of Zeon Deikun, instituted a principality and declared independence from the Earth Federation, a decision reminiscent of “single state Zeonism.” Zeon Deikun sought change within the Federation by attaining autonomy for the Spacenoids, but Degwin Zabi aimed to preserve sovereignty by opposing the Federation as a nation.

Gihren Zabi’s theory could be seen as a resurgence of Degwin Zabi’s “single state Zeonism,” expanded across the Earth Sphere. That is, it suggests not opposing the Federation but politically outmaneuvering it and guiding its direction. Whereas Zeon Deikun sought Zeonism from within the Federation, and Degwin Zabi from the viewpoint of a nation, Gihren Zabi’s work can be perceived as the practice of Zeonism from the outside, from a sovereign nation opposing the Federation, namely the Principality of Zeon.

This philosophy is critically assessed as a dangerous doctrine of chosen people, and many modern historians argue that it’s a distortion of Zeon Deikun’s national side-ism (or contolism). However, we cannot overlook the fact that this doctrine became the underlying thought of the Principality in the ’70s and has fervent followers even after the war.

The theory is seen as a work driven by a sense of crisis. In it, Gihren Zabi enumerates the issues of the Earth Federation’s administration of the Earth Sphere under the guise of absolute democracy.

The ignorant masses who cling to vested interests while suppressing the Spacenoids hold no clear prospects for the future. In this regard, there is a decisive difference between them and the citizens of the Principality, who hold a future perspective based on the historical inevitability of the Newtype theory. Despite their despotism, the Federation has fallen into mob rule, weakly moved by the lack of ideological support. They refuse to recognize the fact that mankind’s adaptation to space – known as “human innovation” – has begun, as advocated by Zeon Deikun. Their rule not only delays “human innovation” on a global scale but also attempts to nip it in the bud through oppression. The evolution of humanity into Newtypes through “human innovation” is a historical inevitability. However, the likelihood is increasing that the Federation’s despotism and weakness could endanger the very existence of mankind before this evolution is achieved. Therefore, the Principality’s citizens, who practice Zeonism, should overthrow the Federation, and “human innovation” should be realized promptly on an Earth Sphere scale.

The reason why this doctrine has a strong coloration of chosen people is that “human innovation” is brought about by the practitioners of Zeonism. Of course, the seeds of this as a chosen people’s idea existed at the stage of the Principality’s declaration by Degwin Zabi. A nation created by those who understand and practice Zeonism is, in itself, a chosen nation born from historical inevitability. Gihren Zabi intended to expand this on an Earth Sphere, not in the long-term perspective, but in the short-term. This inevitably became the leadership (management and administration) of the Earth Sphere by the Principality’s citizens.

The Principality itself was often criticized for having a pyramid-like structure. Those who understood and practiced Zeonism would lead those who didn’t in the Principality system. Degwin Zabi became the head of state and handed over actual power to his children. Still, he was skeptical about the military dictatorship (he likely envisioned a group leadership system by practitioners of Zeonism during the power transition). However, if someone within the leading group understood and practiced Zeonism more, they would inevitably become the leader of the group. The concept of the Principality system itself had an inherent tendency towards dictatorship.

Nevertheless, this ideology received enthusiastic support and continued to have many followers even after the Principality’s downfall because people hoped for powerful leadership to overcome the current crisis and secure a future. After Zeon Deikun’s death, there was no doubt that Degwin Zabi and his circle were the foremost practitioners of Zeonism. They resorted to various plots to eliminate pro-Zeon Deikun factions and practically left no other choice for the time of the Principality’s establishment (understanding this, it becomes easier to comprehend why when Char Aznable declared himself the leader of Neo Zeon, he was enthusiastically embraced by the people. Those who sympathized with Zeonism had little resistance to being led by its practitioners. This is also evident in Haman Karn‘s quick control of people as the de facto leader of Axis).

The appeal to many people of the “survival of the superior race” lies in the point of trying to achieve historical inevitability through human actions. In that sense, it can be said that the supporters of the theory were people who had a sense of crisis about the future of mankind and were willing to take the initiative in its breakthrough.

However, it cannot be denied that those who believe in this ideology become dogmatic. Moreover, this ideology and the political system based on it allow dictatorship and cannot have a mechanism to point out the errors of the leaders. Because those who understand and practice Zeonism more cannot make mistakes (those who point out errors are seen as agitators trying to divide the system by partisanship).

The defeat of the Principality in the One Year War can be said to be brought about by the tacit agreement of politics and the military that Gihren Zabi’s judgment was infallible. Unfortunately, he had not reached the realm of the ideal practitioner of Zeonism touted in the “survival of the superior race” theory.

However, the dogmatism seen in the theory was already inherent in the Zeonism advocated by Zeon Zum Deikun. He claimed that Spacenoids were the chosen people who adapted to the new environment and would evolve into Newtypes due to historical inevitability. However, if you act based on this historical inevitability, it will be seen as quite dogmatic by those who do not accept it. Whether Zeon Zum Deikun was aware of this pitfall or not, he advocated a gentler approach to “human innovation.”

In fact, it was not only the theory itself that fell into the pitfall of dogmatism inherent in Zeonism. Char Aznable’s plan, who became the Supreme Commander of Neo Zeon, to destroy the environment by dropping Axis on Earth and forcibly making all of mankind Spacenoids, was also criticized for being dogmatic by many people.

If you are eager to realize Zeonism quickly, it can be said that the arrogance of achieving historical inevitability by human action becomes apparent. The “survival of the superior race theory” is nothing but an extreme example of this.