The Borg Collective: Applying the BITE Model of Authoritarian Control™ and Influence Continuum

(a fan evaluation of the Borg, a fictional cyborg race in the Star Trek universe) 

Introduction 

Many writers base their work on what they care about, and science-fiction writers are no exception. The various iterations of Star Trek have perennially given us parables about racism, class issues, medical ethics, war, politics, and many other real-world issues. So, it is no surprise that when Star Trek Next Generation showrunner Michael Piller read Combating Cult Mind Control and met cult expert Steven Hassan to discuss his interest in high-control groups, the result would be one of the franchise’s most iconic races: the Borg.