Editing Kazon (section)

== Characteristics ==

=== History and politics ===
In the ''Star Trek'' universe, prior to the arrival of ''Voyager'' in the Delta Quadrant, hostilities between the Trabe and the Kazon led to the Trabe keeping them subjugated. Violence between the Kazon was encouraged to limit the risk of them rising up against the Trabe.<ref name="Episodes2" /> Before being conquered by the Trabe, the Kazon were the most advanced society in the quadrant.<ref name="People">[[#okudamirek1994|Okuda & Okuda & Mirek (1994)]]</ref> On [[stardate]] 2346, Jal Sankur united the sects into the Kazon Order or the Kazon Collective to overthrow the Trabe.<ref name="Youth" /><ref name="Episodes2" /><ref name="People" /> The Kazon stole the Trabe's technology and ships and, rather than settle on a new homeworld, became a [[Nomad|nomadic]] species. After achieving independence from the Trabe, the Kazon continued to fight among themselves for control of resources and technology.<ref name="Youth" /><ref name="Episodes2" />

In ''Star Trek: Voyager'', the Kazon are known under the collective title of the Kazon Order, but the species are also separated into various sections.<ref name=":0" /> While the official ''Star Trek'' website lists the Kazon as having eighteen sects,<ref name=":0" /> the episode "Initiations" represents the number of sects as highly unstable and changing every day.<ref name="Academic1">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.eduhi.at/dl/Star_Trek_Voyager.pdf|title=Star Trek Voyager - PC or non PC?|last2=Nemtzeanu|first2=Yonit|last1=Niculescu|first1=Christina|magazine=Medienimpulse|issue=20|pages=37–48|date=June 1997|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051231063404/http://www.eduhi.at/dl/Star_Trek_Voyager.pdf|archive-date=December 31, 2005|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Only eight groups were named in ''Star Trek: Voyager'': Kazon-Halik, Kazon-Ogla, Kazon-Oglamar, Kazon-Relora, Kazon-Nistrim, Kazon-Mostral, Kazon-Hobii, and Kazon-Pommar.<ref name="Bundle1">The names of the eight Kazon sects were mentioned in the following episodes:
* {{cite episode|title=Caretaker|series=[[Star Trek: Voyager]]|network=[[UPN]]|season=[[Star Trek: Voyager (season 1)|1]]|author=Writer: Michael Piller & Jeri Taylor. Director: Winrich Kolbe.|airdate=January 16, 1995}}
* {{cite episode|title=State of Flux|series=[[Star Trek: Voyager]]|network=[[UPN]]|season=[[Star Trek: Voyager (season 1)|1]]|author=Writer: Chris Abbott. Director: Robert Scheerer.|airdate=April 10, 1995}}
* {{cite episode|title=Maneuvers|series=[[Star Trek: Voyager]]|network=[[UPN]]|season=[[Star Trek: Voyager (season 2)|2]]|author=Writer: Kenneth Biller. Director: David Livingston.|airdate=November 20, 1995}}
* {{cite episode|title=Alliances|series=[[Star Trek: Voyager]]|network=[[UPN]]|season=[[Star Trek: Voyager (season 2)|2]]|author=Writer: Jeri Tayler. Director: Les Landau.|airdate=January 22, 1996}}
* {{cite episode|title=Basics, Part I|series=[[Star Trek: Voyager]]|network=[[UPN]]|season=[[Star Trek: Voyager (season 2)|2]]|author=Writer: Michael Piller. Director: Winrich Kolbe.|airdate=May 20, 1996}}
* {{cite episode|title=Basics, Part II|series=[[Star Trek: Voyager]]|network=[[UPN]]|season=[[Star Trek: Voyager (season 3)|3]]|author=Writer: Michael Piller. Director: Winrich Kolbe.|airdate=September 4, 1996}}</ref> The sects are portrayed as "blood enemies" who rarely make attempts at diplomacy or forge alliances.<ref name="Academic1" /> At the time that ''Voyager'' passed through Kazon-occupied space, the Kazon-Ogla and Kazon-Relora were the most powerful of the eight, controlling the most members and ships.<ref name="Episodes1" /> A Kazon who does not belong to a sect is viewed as a "Goven" or an outcast.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.startrek.com/database_article/kazon |title=Kazon|publisher=[[Startrek.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120210642/http://www.startrek.com/database_article/kazon|archive-date=November 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>  The title "first maje" is used to reference the leader of a sect.<ref name="Alive" /> The political structure of the Kazon is built around "political killings inside the sects as well as between sects",<ref name="Academic1" /> with peace perceived as an impossible construct.<ref name="DevelopingWorld">[[Kazon#gonazalez2015|Gonazalez (2015)]]: p. 10</ref>

=== Culture and technology ===
During ''Star Trek: Voyager'', Kazon society was represented as [[Patriarchy|patriarchal]] as males reacted negatively to orders from women.<ref name="Episodes1" /><ref name="Episodes2" /> Kazon women are never shown on the series, and are only referenced through dialogue by the Kazon men.<ref name="Academic1" /> Young Kazon males are raised as warriors, undergoing a rite of passage ritual to earn their adult names. The honorific title "Jal" given to a young Kazon male marks their transition into adulthood; it is given either when the boy kills an enemy in battle or dies in battle.<ref name="Youth" /><ref name="People" /> Those who fail this rite of passage are punished either by execution or [[public humiliation|public shaming]].<ref name="Academic1" /> Fathers and sons are expected to have an emotionally distant relationship, with any signs of affection between them being considered shameful.<ref name="Youth" />

Scholars Christina Niculescu and Yonit Nemtzeanu analysed Kazon culture to explore [[political correctness]] and themes of [[racial prejudice]] in ''Star Trek: Voyager''. They determined that the Kazon are characterized as primitive/inferior, savage, and criminal, and argue that the Kazon's appearance and behavior were designed to elicit a negative response from the audience. They described the Kazon's clothing as resembling that of [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla warriors]], and their hair and faces as "wild" and "threatening". Though the Kazon are not shown as having a standing army, they are defined as a militaristic society. Niculescu and Nemtzeanu noted that the Kazon dialogue is marked by its frequent use of violent language.<ref name="Academic1" /> According to Seska, Kazon medicine is rudimentary and "primitive".<ref name="Basics2" /> Even though the Kazon are the only classified species that the Borg refuse to assimilate, Janeway included in her reports that they are a "tricky and dangerous foe".<ref name="Arc" />

In ''Star Trek: Voyager'', the Kazon's military focus is heavily contrasted with the [[Humanism|humanistic]] [[United Federation of Planets]].<ref name="Academic1" /> Through the resources taken from the Trabe, the Kazon possess energy weapons, primarily [[Phaser (Star Trek)|phasers]] and [[tractor beam]]s, and [[deflector shields]]. They are unaware of transporters and replicators until their first meeting with ''Voyager''{{'}}s crew.<ref name="Bundle2">The Kazon's technology was explored in the following episodes:
* {{cite episode | title=Caretaker | series=[[Star Trek: Voyager]] | author=Writer: Michael Piller & Jeri Taylor. Director: Winrich Kolbe. | network=[[UPN]] | airdate=January 16, 1995 | season=[[Star Trek: Voyager (season 1)|1]]}}
* {{cite episode | title=State of Flux | series=[[Star Trek: Voyager]] | author=Writer: Chris Abbott. Director: Robert Scheerer. | network=[[UPN]] | airdate= April 10, 1995 | season=[[Star Trek: Voyager (season 1)|1]]}}
* {{cite episode | title=Initiations  | series=[[Star Trek: Voyager]] | author=Writer: Kenneth Biller. Director: Winrich Kolbe. | network=[[UPN]] | airdate= September 4, 1995 | season=[[Star Trek: Voyager (season 2)|2]]}}
* {{cite episode | title=Alliances  | series=[[Star Trek: Voyager]] | author=Writer: Jeri Tayler. Director: Les Landau. | network=[[UPN]] | airdate= January 22, 1996 | season=[[Star Trek: Voyager (season 2)|2]]}}</ref> The Kazon are primarily shown using one of two types of spacecraft: raider ships and carrier vessels. The raider ships are considered minor threats by ''Voyager''{{'}}s crew, but the carrier ships are viewed as more dangerous.<ref name="Episodes2" /><ref name="GoodEats" /> Even though the Kazon's weapons are inferior to those on ''Voyager'', the Starfleet crew's inability to resupply leaves them vulnerable to attacks.<ref name="NoSuppliesforYou">[[#okuda|Okuda (1996)]]: p. 252</ref> The Kazon vessels are visually represented as "dark, strictly functional" and without "any of the embellishments known from the bright, slick Federation ships". The ships are adorned with only the skulls and trophies of conquered enemies.<ref name="Academic1" /> In ''Star Trek Online'', players can use the Kazon heavy raider and have access to its [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]]. The MMORPG's official website promotes the craft's greatest strength as "its maneuverability and versatility". The site also mentions that the Kazon have improved their technology since their encounter with ''Voyager'' by scavenging more advanced materials from other species.<ref name="Arc2">{{cite web|url=https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/7010373-delta-expedition-ships |title=Delta Expedition Ships |publisher=[[Cryptic Studios]] |date=October 13, 2014 |last=LaughingTrendy |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141014031739/http://www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/7010373-delta-expedition-ships |archive-date=October 14, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>