Nation or Terrorist? Unraveling the Political Enigma
DECODING THE ESSENCE OF NEO ZEON

The culmination of the One Year War, humanity’s most cataclysmic conflict, failed to usher in an era of tranquility for the Earth Sphere. Instead, the ensuing decades were scarred by relentless warfare—a period that rightfully earned the moniker of a “turbulent age.” At the epicenter of this maelstrom were entities that could only be described as the spectral remnants of Zeon.

However, the true nature of these Zeon successors is a labyrinth of complexity and contradiction, eluding simple interpretation. Let us embark on an exploration to unveil the true nature of these Zeon inheritors.

THE DISSOLUTION OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF ZEON:
A FUSION OF NATION AND IDEOLOGY

The collapse of the Principality of Zeon, a de facto nation-state in Side 3, in U.C.0080 bore implications that transcended the mere defeat of a country in warfare. It laid bare the nuanced evolution of the concept of “nation” in the Universal Century, distinguishing it from its predecessors.

In the wake of the One Year War, the Principality of Zeon fractured into three distinct factions. One emerged as the “Republic of Zeon,” inheriting the Principality’s governmental framework. Another comprised the Principality’s radical elements, who sought refuge in the asteroid Axis. The third faction encompassed groups such as the Delaz Fleet, who eschewed the ceasefire and elected to perpetuate their resistance against the Earth Federation government within the Earth Sphere.

As the war drew to a close, a substantial portion of the Principality of Zeon’s military might remained intact, particularly in major strongholds like Granada on the lunar surface and within the Zeon homeland. Despite the loss of the Zabi family leadership, the Zeon parliament initiated peace negotiations with the Earth Federation government following the fall of A Baoa Qu. Conventionally, this would have precipitated the disarmament of the Zeon military.

However, a significant contingent of vessels and personnel defied the disarmament directive, instead launching a campaign of resistance against the Earth Federation Forces. This act of defiance was, in itself, a staggering development.

War, in its fundamental essence, is an armed conflict born from the severe clash of national interests. As it involves nation-states as adversaries, it operates within a framework of certain established rules. A nation is an entity that wields exclusive authority over its territory and populace, governing and representing them. In stark contrast, when groups devoid of national status—such as anti-government guerrillas—engage in large-scale combat operations, their actions are categorized as civil unrest or criminal acts of destruction. It is axiomatic that only a single entity can claim national status within a given geographical domain.

IS AXIS A NATION?!

Peering through the lens of Universal Century history, we find that by U.C. 0088, the Earth Federation government had broadened its diplomatic horizons. It now engaged not only with its legitimate counterpart, the Republic of Zeon, but also with Axis—a crucible of radical ideology—as a political equal and de facto nation. This unprecedented scenario saw two Zeon entities simultaneously at the negotiating table. While history has witnessed nations altering their recognition based on factional preferences, it’s extraordinarily rare for a single nation—in this case, the Earth Federation government—to simultaneously accord state status to two entities.

The political landscape grew even more complex in the aftermath of Axis/Neo Zeon’s supposed disintegration following the demise of its de facto leader, Haman Karn. When Char Aznable raised his banner under the same Neo Zeon moniker, the entity was still accorded nation-level status. This raises profound questions, as Axis should have either fallen under Republic of Zeon jurisdiction or undergone a formal process of declaring independence and securing recognition from the Earth Federation government.

In reality, Axis was a resource-rich asteroid inhabited by what were essentially refugees—potentially hostile ones at that—making its recognition as a nation a Herculean diplomatic task. Similarly, the foundations of Char’s Neo Zeon’s exclusive authority and its very establishment remain shrouded in ambiguity.

THE PRINCIPALITY OF ZEON AS A DEFACTO INDEPENDENT NATION

To unravel these conundrums, we must delve into the political and social circumstances of the era.

The Republic of Zeon emerged as a construct to facilitate the smooth transition of post-war governance in the former Principality. While the Principality was ostensibly a monarchy tailored for the Zabi family’s authoritarian rule, it maintained a veneer of democracy through its parliament. The transition from the old Republic of Zeon was orchestrated with democratic finesse (a testament to the Zabi family’s popular support), likely feeling like a return to familiar political terrain for many.

The decision to grant autonomy to the occupied Side 3 can be interpreted as a strategic move to mitigate post-war administrative chaos. This raises the question: was Side 3’s autonomy unique, or did it mirror the status of other Sides? Side 6’s successful declaration and maintenance of neutrality during the conflict suggest that each Side enjoyed a quasi-independent nation status, buttressed by robust social systems designed to preserve this autonomy.

In all likelihood, the Earth Federation government operated as a federal state—a conglomeration of smaller nations unified under an overarching governmental structure, not unlike the present-day United States. Within this framework, each Side functioned as a micro-nation, logically possessing military forces akin to U.S. state militias. Viewed through this angle, the One Year War, ostensibly a struggle for independence, can be reinterpreted as Zeon’s ambitious gambit to either secede from or invert the power dynamic with the Earth Federation government.

WAS THE EARTH FEDERATION GOVERNMENT TRULY CORRUPT?

Delving deeper into this political tableau reveals potential fissures in the democratic facade of the Earth Federation government. The annals of the Universal Century, up until U.C. 0100 when the Republic of Zeon abdicated its autonomy, can be interpreted as a saga of struggle between the denizens of Earth and the pioneers of space—the Earthnoids and Spacenoids. Throughout Mobile Suit Gundam universe, the very act of human space colonization is sometimes viewed through a lens of abandonment, with the “corruption” of the Earth Federation government pinpointed as the wellspring of societal friction. This narrative speaks to a groundswell of discontent among a significant stratum of the citizenry.

Yet, if we envision the Earth Federation government as operating under a democratic system akin to our contemporary world, logic dictates that the more populous Spacenoids would have wielded electoral dominance.

The longevity of Earth Federation rule—spanning over a century without succumbing to revolution or radical social reform—hints at a profound schism between the disaffected and the content. This suggests a silent majority of citizens who, while harboring critiques of the Earth Federation government, stopped short of outright dissatisfaction (finding a measure of contentment in their lives). Through this lens, the democratic visage of the Earth Federation government becomes less an anomaly and more an expected outcome.

We can hypothesize that the Principality of Zeon became a lodestone for the most radical elements of Spacenoid society. Invoking Gihren Zabi’s assertion that Zeon’s “national power is one-thirtieth” of the Federation’s, we might estimate the deeply disaffected at around 3%. Alternatively, if we entertain theories positing Zeon’s population at 10 billion within the Earth Sphere’s 100 billion, this figure could swell to 10%.

The Principality of Zeon, in all likelihood, was a melting pot of Spacenoid radicalism, encompassing a spectrum of extremist ideologies. The Delaz Fleet’s insurrection in U.C. 0083 stands as a stark testament to the primacy of Zeon ideology, showcasing a willingness to employ any means in service of their cause. Their readiness for martyrdom aligns them more closely with extremists or terrorists than with conventional military forces.

The pages of later history paint the Republic of Zeon in moderate hues, while casting those who sought refuge in Axis as the torchbearers of radicalism. While this nuanced social tableau rarely takes center stage in the Mobile Suit Gundam series, it behooves us to consider that the conflicts following the Gryps War might have been relatively localized skirmishes, more akin to regional disputes than full-scale wars.

AXIS: A GEOPOLITICAL ANOMALY AND
THE EARTH FEDERATION’S STRATEGIC BLUNDER

Axis, with its modest population numbering in the tens of thousands, teetered on the precipice of national legitimacy. Yet, as previously noted, Axis was, by rights, Republic of Zeon territory, a hotbed of radical Zeonist ideology.

Under normal circumstances, its prospects for recognition by the Earth Federation government would have been virtually nonexistent. However, one might posit that the Earth Federation Forces harbored a vested interest in preserving Axis as a distinct entity, driven by several strategic considerations:

1. Its remote location relative to Earth.
2. Its limited military capabilities.
3. The potential for substantial losses in any hypothetical conquest attempt.

In essence, Axis occupied a unique geopolitical niche—posing a minimal existential threat to the Earth Sphere while simultaneously maintaining a formidable perceived threat level. For the hawks within the Earth Federation Forces, Axis represented an irresistible adversary. As exemplified by Jamitov Hymen’s establishment of the Titans, Axis likely served as the perfect bogeyman to justify budget allocations amidst the harsh realities of post-war disarmament.

However, an unforeseen variable entered this delicate equation: the eruption of the Gryps War.

The Earth Federation Forces found themselves in the throes of a disarmament era, necessitated by the imperative to rejuvenate a war-ravaged economy. Their military might had likely dwindled to a mere fraction of its One Year War heights, though still ostensibly several times more potent than the perceived Zeon remnant threat.

The unexpected internal schism of the Gryps War—pitting the Titans, a specialized unit nominally tasked with eradicating Zeon remnants, against the AEUG, an anti-Federation faction within the Earth Federation Forces—not only weakened both belligerents but fundamentally undermined the Earth Federation Forces as an institution. This power vacuum created a tantalizing opportunity for Axis to assert itself.

The revelation that Axis commanded military strength comparable to the Titans or AEUG likely caught many strategists off-guard. Consequently, neither faction possessed the wherewithal to unilaterally resolve the crisis, culminating in the ironic spectacle of both parties soliciting Axis’s cooperation to quell the internal strife.

Thus, Axis, hitherto relegated to the status of Zeon remnants, seized the moment to declare the establishment of Neo Zeon in Side 3 in U.C. 0088, thereby achieving de facto national status. At this juncture, any aspirations of “Earth Sphere domination” akin to the One Year War were likely either absent or nebulous at best. For Neo Zeon, the paramount objective was national resurrection, though they lacked the requisite capabilities to sustain such an ambitious endeavor. The question of whether they annexed or coexisted with the Republic of Zeon remains shrouded in ambiguity, though subsequent historical developments suggest the latter scenario.

ARE HAMAN’S AND CHAR’S NEO ZEON THE SAME ENTITY?

What was the political structure of this Neo Zeon? We know it was a state that cloaked itself in the legitimacy of Mineva Zabi, the last scion of the Zabi dynasty, as its figurehead monarch, while Haman Karn wielded the true levers of power. This curious polity also bore the hallmarks of an aristocratic order.

Given Axis, with its minuscule population and militaristic ethos, such a system likely proved effective for initial governance. However, while this structure may have resonated with fervent Zabi loyalists, it was ill-suited for administering the civilian milieu of Side 3 under the Neo Zeon banner. The notion that Neo Zeon’s edifice crumbled with Haman Karn’s battlefield demise, following internal upheaval, is a narrative that warrants scrutiny. Surely, pressing issues such as civil liberties and military protocols would have demanded attention, making it implausible for a state to forfeit its status merely due to a leader’s fall. Indeed, the very claim to statehood on such tenuous foundations seems a geopolitical stretch.

Char Aznable’s incarnation of Neo Zeon (henceforth “Reborn Neo Zeon”) is equally shrouded in mystery. In the film Char’s Counterattack, we witness the Earth Federation government engaging in high-stakes diplomacy with this reborn Neo Zeon over Axis, effectively conferring upon it the gravitas of a nation-state. How did Char orchestrate this diplomatic coup?

One hypothesis posits that Char (democratically) seized the reins of the Sweetwater colony, subsequently pivoting to a leadership-centric governance model. However, such a strategy would be a protracted affair. An alternative theory suggests that Char effectively inherited the mantle of the old Neo Zeon. Indeed, Char’s coup in co-opting the core forces of Haman’s Neo Zeon is widely regarded as a linchpin in the establishment of the reborn Neo Zeon.

This leads us to a provocative conclusion: formally, Neo Zeon and the reborn Neo Zeon might be two acts of the same political drama, with Char ascending to power in a sophisticated changing of the guard. This would elucidate the persistence of the name. We can envision a convergence of the old Neo Zeon citizenry and Char’s Spacenoid sympathizers in Sweetwater, the new capital of this reborn entity. One might even speculate about an “Axis-Sweetwater Exchange Treaty,” a grand bargain trading the military nexus of Axis for the civilian haven of Sweetwater.

Char’s adoption of the title “Supreme Commander” might be a calculated move to emphasize his role as a political figurehead rather than a monarch, despite his de facto authority. This nuanced approach might have been a necessary concession to placate the pro-Zabi factions within the Neo Zeon ranks. It’s entirely plausible that Mineva Zabi continued to serve as the nominal head of state.

CONSIDERING THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SLEEVES NEO ZEON

This nuanced perspective illuminates the enigmatic presence of diverse Zeon-type weaponry at Palau, a key Neo Zeon stronghold, as of U.C. 0096. It suggests a continuity between Neo Zeon and the reborn Neo Zeon, with their martial legacy stretching back to the Axis era. The absence of these venerable units during the Second Neo Zeon War can be attributed to a strategic focus on cutting-edge hardware for operations. Without this premise, we’d be left grappling with the conundrum of how Haman-era Neo Zeon armaments were preserved and maintained in the intervening years.

The persistence of Neo Zeon, colloquially known as the “Sleeves,” in the wake of the Second Neo Zeon War presents another layer of complexity. While they retained their military apparatus, it languished without official recognition from the Earth Federation government. This diplomatic limbo was a natural consequence of the reborn Neo Zeon’s unilateral and militant breach of the Axis handover accord with the Earth Federation, inevitably inviting punitive measures.

Yet, they managed to evade total disarmament. One might speculate that their continued existence was tacitly tolerated, albeit at the cost of being branded “terrorists” rather than a legitimate military force. Undoubtedly, their survival was predicated on far more stringent conditions than those imposed on the original Neo Zeon. This peculiar arrangement might be a reflection of the Earth Federation government’s strategic necessity for a “hypothetical adversary.”

★

In the rich expanse of the Mobile Suit Gundam universe, we often witness the dissolution of organizations following the demise of their leaders, a phenomenon rarely mirrored in contemporary geopolitics.

The closest analog in recent history might be Nazi Germany, yet even in this extreme case, the governmental apparatus persisted post-Hitler’s suicide, serving as the vehicle for accepting defeat.

Admittedly, these narrative constructs in the Universal Century primarily serve to weave together disparate works within the franchise. However, by juxtaposing these fictional scenarios against historical realities, we unlock a panorama of intriguing possibilities and alternative interpretations.