10 Important Star Trek Details That Are Almost Never Mentioned

You may have noticed that, when visiting Earth, characters are able to travel anywhere on the planet instantly (using public transporters as we saw in Star Trek: Picard) without the need for any passports or hassle at all. Additionally, all of Earth in Star Trek seems to have the same or similar laws regarding freedom of speech, anti-discrimination, and a universal standard of living.

The reason for this is that Earth was actually united under a one-world government some time during the 22nd century (largely as a result of the cultural shift towards cooperation following First Contact).

As we've seen from the mirror universe, a one-world government can be dangerous because, if not properly democratic, it concentrates power in the hands of very few and can quickly turn authoritarian, but in the prime universe the world government (known most commonly as United Earth) serves only to enforce basic Human rights and protect the planet. Individual countries like Canada, China, and France are all allowed to keep their names and cultural identities, but all countries simply committed to working towards mutual prosperity.

The change was due to many factors such as the invention of limitless energy and food, the near extinction of humanity due to war in the past, and the good example given by the Vulcans of a successful one-world government.