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To answer the title question, it's mostly because Imperial fanbois are the biggest fanbois.

Yes, the Tau are a colonialist power that practice some fairly shady tactics to ensure victory. But that's what governments do. People seldom want to see how sausage is made, they just want the delicious sausage. The Tau are trying to make the best sausage possible for everyone, including the pork - but that doesn't mean the pig gets to live.

The Imperium is actively, un-necessarily cruel. It's part of the point of the setting, and GW is fully up front about how awful the Imperium really is. The whole point of the Tau is that they are a counterpoint to show how badly the Imperium has failed, not to show the Tau leadership as 'foolish xenos who don't know how the galaxy really works*'. The Imperium's actions can't be justified in most cases, they are just the product of decisions by people not caring how the sausage is made at all (Lords of Terra). In fact, the Imperium's governance is actually generally counterproductive as all the suffering and negative emotions they foster just make the warp more unstable.

Having that little ray of hope makes the grimdark all the more grim and dark. The Tau are supposed to be the blundering, naive good guy wandering around clumsily do-gooding with puppy dog eagerness, creating their empire of peace and love. They're basically the Star Trek Federation, just a bit more aggressive. Some idiot at GW decided they had to throw in sinister overtones because they completely missed the point.

*Nobody really does

 Da Boss wrote:
It is frustrating to read these threads. 40K was created as an explciitly dark parody universe, following in the best traditions of stuff like 2000AD with Judge Dredd.
The Imperium has lots in common with real world fascist regimes, on purpose. Genocide, xenophobia, intolerance of difference, heavy use of propaganda, obsession with war. It also has lots in common with communist regimes- seizure of private property, unending bureaucracy, heavy use of propaganda, obsesssion with deviant thought from outside. The creators no doubt figured that the heavy, heavy brushstrokes would be enough for people not to consider the Imperium the "good guys", but I guess they overestimated people. There are no good guys in original 40K.

Of course the Imperium, in it's propaganda, claims what it does it "justified". That is what every such regime does, it is fundamental. Needing an external threat to hate is also fundamental to these regimes. (Edit to add: And yes, I know, the Imperium is ALSO inspired by the Holy Roman Empire. It has a lot of inspirations, from all over the place. That is what makes it such a good setting!)

Of course, the setting is now being written by people who grew up as fans of the original dark satire and some of them do not seem to understand how it was originally intended. Space Marines are unironically written as heroes rather than the lobotomised murderers they were originally. The setting is now written to justify the Imperium's POV rather than to poke fun at it. The writers seem pretty comfortable writing fascist fan fiction, and a lot of the fans seem pretty comfortable lapping it up. It is that hyper masculine "Only I will do what needs to be done" fantasy stripped of all empathy. Simple, brawny answers to complex questions.

Very disappointing.

Thank you for posting this, I couldn't agree more.

I'd say the Tau fanbois aren't too modest themselves.
Every time its "Tau science is ze greatest in ze world!" or "The Greater Good is for realsies!", even though the Tau have it a lot easier compared to the other factions and haven't really experienced the same circumstances.

They aren't as big as the Imperium, so their logistical network isn't as strained, allowing them to easily defend their worlds when under attack and don't have to worry so much about resource shortages.

They haven't encountered any extinction level events like the Eldar or Necrons. And I mean serious extinction level events, as in, nearly lost their entire species.

They were pretty much allowed to progress in peace, being sheltered by a warp storm and all.

They are a young race, so still haven't quite experienced as many set backs as the other races or have as much baggage.

They are less of a counterpoint to the Imperium, imo, and more of a glimpse of how humanity was as a young, space faring race, full of hope, full of dreams, seeking to colonize the galaxy with some ships, some AI and some pretty advanced tech. They are basically zoomers, who are quickly going to discover why the older races are so crotchety and cynical.

Whether or not the tau become like the imperium is not clear. They may make the decision to not follow in the footsteps of their galactic neighbors, or they may perpetuate the cycle further and become the next imperium, but there’s no definitive evidence that the imperium’s way is the only way.
The imperium is pretty much set in its ways much like the Soviet Union. If they let go just a little everything will fall apart, but that does not mean they were morally right in the first place.

That said I would not consider the tau to be objectively good either. They’re really just a regular imperialist faction by most metrics (complete with a manifest destiny). Not being as bad as the imperium isn’t a high bar.

I don't think the Imperial or the Tau way is the best way either. If it works at keeping the species alive, then it works. Could it be better? Probably. Any change could also wipe out the species though, but if your civilization reached that point then something went horribly wrong beforehand.

The Eldar and Dark Eldar way also isn't great, but it seems to be working. Is it better than the Imperial way? No, but that doesn't mean the Imperial way is better either. It just works.

The Ork way is working perfectly. Does that mean its the best option overall? Of course it is, because Green is Best

My my my, we're already calling people fascists.

I should make a bingo chart for Dakka on these topics.

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
I'd say the Tau fanbois aren't too modest themselves.

Never said they were - just that Imperium ones are the biggest.

Every time its "Tau science is ze greatest in ze world!" or "The Greater Good is for realsies!", even though the Tau have it a lot easier compared to the other factions and haven't really experienced the same circumstances.

They are less of a counterpoint to the Imperium, imo, and more of a glimpse of how humanity was as a young, space faring race, full of hope, full of dreams, seeking to colonize the galaxy with some ships, some AI and some pretty advanced tech. They are basically zoomers, who are quickly going to discover why the older races are so crotchety and cynical.

I think what makes the Tau a counterpoint - because as you point out, they share a similar initial track - is that the Tau aren't rabid Xenophobes. Humans pretty much were, sweeping all aside except for the Eldar, who were fairly indifferent to humanity. Whether or not this turns out well or poorly for the Tau remains to be seen.

 Da Boss wrote:
'Communist regimes- seizure of private property, unending bureaucracy, heavy use of propaganda, obsesssion with deviant thought from outside.

If these are defining traits of Communism then they aren't very strong definers - bar seizure of private property (which Marx defined as a key part of the transition towards Communism). Bureaucracy is a major issue within effectively any form of totalitarian government (it was a major problem for Nazi Germany), while the issues of Bureaucracy that plagued the AES are distinct in many ways from those which plagued the other autocratic regimes. Heavy use of propaganda and 'obsession with deviant thought' (which is a fairly weak and broad descriptor' was also commonplace in other totalitarian states.

The Imperium does not really share any solid connections with any of the AES (Actually Existing Socialism) states bar being 'totalitarian', which in of itself isn't a very strong description (though probably one Marx would not be adverse to).

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:
My my my, we're already calling people fascists.

I should make a bingo chart for Dakka on these topics.

This was destined to happen in a thread where people genuinely attempt to make arguments in favour of a quasi fascist regime.

Furthermore attempting to classify 40k states under real life ideologies is pointless since 40k hasn't been proper political parody since its inception and has the depth of a puddle, as evidenced by people trying to act like the pseudo utopian phraseology of the Tau has any sort of 'deep' political meaning (it doesn't).

At least we haven't had anyone claiming a literal Caste based society is Communist though.

Needless to say, the only moral option in 40k is anti-natalism or some kind of negative utilitarian anti-life bomb. Existence in 40k is pure agony and there is no better option; simply killing everyone would be a superior option to whatever the other races are offering.

 blood reaper wrote:
This was destined to happen in a thread where people genuinely attempt to make arguments in favour of a quasi fascist regime.

That word gets thrown around a lot.

A lot of people don't know what it means.

You can probably lay out the actual definition of it and people would gleefully get behind the idea until you tell them what the name is, because most people just associate it with "bad persons" and that's all they know.

The Imperium is a Tributary Empire. Pretty sure those were around long before some Italians decided to twist some sticks around an axe.

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

You can probably lay out the actual definition of it and people would gleefully get behind the idea

Oh, most certainly; it is self evident that many people would! This is not a good thing!

 Crimson wrote:
Oh, most certainly; it is self evident that many people would! This is not a good thing!

You'd be shocked. All sorts. Many you'd least expect it from.

Because like any other idea that gained traction, it's designed to sound good and work well in ideal circumstances (but has really bad consequences).

And most people don't understand history, or context. They just act in accordance with what they're told to believe.

That's terrifying.

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

 Crimson wrote:
Oh, most certainly; it is self evident that many people would! This is not a good thing!

You'd be shocked. All sorts. Many you'd least expect it from.

Because like any other idea that gained traction, it's designed to sound good and work well in ideal circumstances (but has really bad consequences).

And most people don't understand history, or context. They just act in accordance with what they're told to believe.

That's terrifying.

So in theory it works (even though some things aren't accounted for) but in reality it doesn't remotely work.

-------

On topic I do think tau are better in a sense than the imperium but at least the imperium has the balls to show its cruelty whereas the tau are super sneaky about it. The imperium beats you and tells you it's for your own good and then you might believe it because it's all you know. The tau probably do the same but with more mind control and tech. The tau have subtlety in convincing people of their morality (which can be lacking at times) while the imperium has no subtlety whatsoever....in probably anything it does really.

It's basically if you're tau you believe you're free and are a mind slave that must say and do certain things. The imperium is bad just doesn't really lie about it or at least it's not as indirect as the tau.

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

 blood reaper wrote:
This was destined to happen in a thread where people genuinely attempt to make arguments in favour of a quasi fascist regime.

That word gets thrown around a lot.

A lot of people don't know what it means.

You can probably lay out the actual definition of it and people would gleefully get behind the idea until you tell them what the name is, because most people just associate it with "bad persons" and that's all they know.

The Imperium is a Tributary Empire. Pretty sure those were around long before some Italians decided to twist some sticks around an axe.

Fascism: political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition (from merriam Webster)

But there’s leeway for that definition, since no two fascist states have been identical. The imperium can be a tributary empire and still at least be somewhat fascist. That said, the tau would also fall under that definition.

 blood reaper wrote:

At least we haven't had anyone claiming a literal Caste based society is Communist though.

I would believe the whole “Tau are commies” bit comes from the idea of working for the Greater Good style propaganda and how easy it is to lump different authoritarian statism governments into the same pot.

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

 blood reaper wrote:
This was destined to happen in a thread where people genuinely attempt to make arguments in favour of a quasi fascist regime.

That word gets thrown around a lot.

A lot of people don't know what it means.

You can probably lay out the actual definition of it and people would gleefully get behind the idea until you tell them what the name is, because most people just associate it with "bad persons" and that's all they know.

The Imperium is a Tributary Empire. Pretty sure those were around long before some Italians decided to twist some sticks around an axe.

I mean from my perspective Fascism is a reactionary movement opposed to the emergence of a unified workers movement, intent on the maintenance of power of the bourgeois and aristocracy. It is anti-liberal, it is capitalism in decline, and is regularly led by military officer types. The Imperium doesn't match up with a lot of that because it lacks the economic structures to recreate those conditions, but it is undeniable that the Imperium is dominated by traditionalist, xenophobic aristocrats opposed to modernity.

 Apple Peel wrote:

 blood reaper wrote:

At least we haven't had anyone claiming a literal Caste based society is Communist though.

I would believe the whole “Tau are commies” bit comes from the idea of working for the Greater Good style propaganda and how easy it is to lump different authoritarian statism governments into the same pot.

Yeah, which is a sign of how weak a lot of people's political knowledge is, given that these governments were usually pretty distinct in how they operated. Even then the Tau share very little with the Soviet Union or any of the AES states (the myth that these countries promoted some utopian vision of the future is laughable, especially given what Marx wrote).

Though I can't lie, it would be pretty based if the Tau were actual proletarian revolutionaries. Working Men of All Planetary Systems, Unite!

The Tau are basically Kallipollis, the "utopic" city described in Plato's Republic, with the external policies of the Roman Empire.

I mean, their Philosopher King's caste was literally tasked with the persecution of basically the Greater Good.

 blood reaper wrote:


Though I can't lie, it would be pretty based if the Tau were actual proletarian revolutionaries. Working Men of All Planetary Systems, Unite!

Genestealer Cults are sort of like that. Like, sure, they're being controlled by an alien hive mind, but a lot of the GSC members tend to be part of the working class, and if I were an invasive alien species with sway over the lower parts of imperial society, I would totally get my servants to start a worker's revolt, roping in uninfected members for maximum potential havoc.

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Genestealer Cults are sort of like that. Like, sure, they're being controlled by an alien hive mind, but a lot of the GSC members tend to be part of the working class, and if I were an invasive alien species with sway over the lower parts of imperial society, I would totally get my servants to start a worker's revolt, roping in uninfected members for maximum potential havoc.

Rise up brothers, there is freedom from the tyranny of <insert local ruler here> and his imperium!

Together we can overthrow imperial rule and become part of something greater!

*Hive fleet gets their straws ready*


It's probably one of my favorite aspects of GSC, the message of freedom and unity carefully wrapping certain doom.

chimera0205 wrote:
I've never understood how people can seriously argue this point. Like I know Mind Control and Sterilization but like have you never met the Inquisition or the Ecclearchy? Yeah sure the Tau control almost every aspect of your life but at least in the Tau your life has value. Your not gonna see any Tau Fire warriors just shoot you for gaks and giggles and your definitely never gonna see any Tau Fleet blow up a bunch of LOYAL Tau planets for the sole sin of having the audacity to be in the general direction a Tyranid Hive Fleet was heading in. (fething Kryptman.) Both empires are incredibly totalitarian and you have litterally no rights or freedoms on either an yeah sure you might have a TINY itty bitty bit more freedom on SOME imperial worlds but is that tiny amount of maybe extra freedom IF ypur lucky enough to be born on the right planet out weight the massive cost in value to your government and massive increase in disposability? I don't think it is. And please for Terras sake don't just reply by screaming Heresy. Im trying to have a actual conversation here.

Because it is.

To suggest otherwise is treason.

And treason is HERESY

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:

 blood reaper wrote:


Though I can't lie, it would be pretty based if the Tau were actual proletarian revolutionaries. Working Men of All Planetary Systems, Unite!

Genestealer Cults are sort of like that. Like, sure, they're being controlled by an alien hive mind, but a lot of the GSC members tend to be part of the working class, and if I were an invasive alien species with sway over the lower parts of imperial society, I would totally get my servants to start a worker's revolt, roping in uninfected members for maximum potential havoc.

Genestealer Cults are what Nazis think Communism is; a scheme by some kind of subversive, alien power to trick workers in order to put the aliens on top.

 blood reaper wrote:

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

 blood reaper wrote:
This was destined to happen in a thread where people genuinely attempt to make arguments in favour of a quasi fascist regime.

That word gets thrown around a lot.

A lot of people don't know what it means.

You can probably lay out the actual definition of it and people would gleefully get behind the idea until you tell them what the name is, because most people just associate it with "bad persons" and that's all they know.

The Imperium is a Tributary Empire. Pretty sure those were around long before some Italians decided to twist some sticks around an axe.

I mean from my perspective Fascism is a reactionary movement opposed to the emergence of a unified workers movement, intent on the maintenance of power of the bourgeois and aristocracy. It is anti-liberal, it is capitalism in decline, and is regularly led by military officer types. The Imperium doesn't match up with a lot of that because it lacks the economic structures to recreate those conditions, but it is undeniable that the Imperium is dominated by traditionalist, xenophobic aristocrats opposed to modernity.

 Apple Peel wrote:

 blood reaper wrote:

At least we haven't had anyone claiming a literal Caste based society is Communist though.

I would believe the whole “Tau are commies” bit comes from the idea of working for the Greater Good style propaganda and how easy it is to lump different authoritarian statism governments into the same pot.

Yeah, which is a sign of how weak a lot of people's political knowledge is, given that these governments were usually pretty distinct in how they operated. Even then the Tau share very little with the Soviet Union or any of the AES states (the myth that these countries promoted some utopian vision of the future is laughable, especially given what Marx wrote).

Though I can't lie, it would be pretty based if the Tau were actual proletarian revolutionaries. Working Men of All Planetary Systems, Unite!

Not trying to play moderator here, but this line of discussion is getting dangerously close to real world political discussion, which is forbidden on the boards.

As for the Imperium, the closest accurate description of the "current" Imperium under Rowboat Gorillaman's administration, in the 42nd Millennium, is that of a unitary authoritarian semi-theocratic confederation. The Tau Empire would more accurately be described as a caste-based authoritarian federation.

Nope. It's fascistic and is explicitly written and presented as such.

Going miles and miles and miles out of your way to find a slightly more palatable way of saying 'fascist' changes nothing and is exactly the kind of rationalization I was talking about on p2.

 Excommunicatus wrote:
Nope. It's fascistic and is explicitly written and presented as such.

Going miles and miles and miles out of your way to find a slightly more palatable way of saying 'fascist' changes nothing and is exactly the kind of rationalization I was talking about on p2.

In your opinion. And that opinion appears to be based more on memes than lore. The whole "catholic space nazi" meme is an old, stale meme by now.


Every system of government, both real and fictional, will have similarities with the others in the sociopolitical mosaic. The fact that the Imperium has some of the attributes of historical fascist systems doesn't make it a fascist state.

And I don't appreciate you attributing motives to me that are not there. I'm simply stating facts (insofar as facts can be applied to fictional political entities) based on the background.

I agree, some superficial similarities with fascism don't make the Imperium fascist. I've said as much several times in this thread.

The Imperium's overt and explicit fascism makes it fascist.

So, coolbeans, I won't bring up the fact that you're frantically scrambling to throw in anything and everything you can to rationalize your affinity for space-fascists, which is 100% what you're nakedly and obviously doing, and you won't bring up "catholic space nazi" memes that I've never referenced - or actually even viddied before - and you won't tell me that I'm basing my entire POV on them, ok?

I mean, using a dictionary textbook definition of fascism, the IoM fits pretty well.

From Dictionary.com
"a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism."

From Mirriam-Webster

"a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition"

From Wikipedia

"Fascism (/ˈfæʃɪzəm/) is a form of far-right, authoritarian ultranationalism characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and of the economy"

I don't think any definition would fail to suit the Imperium of Man. It is a dictatorial state with unlimited socio-political capabilities that forcibly and violently suppresses opposition and criticism. It is aggressively nationalistic, xenophobic, and racist. It reveres a past golden age and exalts the nation above the individual. While allowing a wide latitude in many ways, it does rigorously control society and the economy (at least as much as it is able to do so).

That said, I think a whole lot of things can fall under these definitions that we wouldn't initially label "Fascist" either. Most any empire or nation state through history has fit these definitions at some point.

Ultimately, I think it's fair to label the Imperium of Man as Fascist in form and function, but without sharing any of the specific ideology of any regime we would recognize from history. I would also say it's not the only label that could be accurately applied to it.

 Apple Peel wrote:

 blood reaper wrote:

At least we haven't had anyone claiming a literal Caste based society is Communist though.

I would believe the whole “Tau are commies” bit comes from the idea of working for the Greater Good style propaganda and how easy it is to lump different authoritarian statism governments into the same pot.

I mostly agree. I would say that the commie wrap also stems from the caste system. The theocratic means by which a person is assigned a career (and likely compensation) based not on their wishes or even their skill set, but entirely on who their parents are. The artificial and autocratic way in which people and labour are divided has a parallel to some 20th century governments.

 oldravenman3025 wrote:
In your opinion. And that opinion appears to be based more on memes than lore. The whole "catholic space nazi" meme is an old, stale meme by now.

Which works as long as you forget that the lore is written from the perspective of someone who sees no issues with the state of the imperium. And stale does not make it any less accurate.

Funny thing, they introduced a functionary under Gulliman who's openly apostate, she didn't seem too keen on the imperium at large and was hoping that Gulliman would reform it. I'd be interested to see something from her perspective or one like hers, because I don't think you would like it a single bit.

 Red Marine wrote:

 Apple Peel wrote:

 blood reaper wrote:

At least we haven't had anyone claiming a literal Caste based society is Communist though.

I would believe the whole “Tau are commies” bit comes from the idea of working for the Greater Good style propaganda and how easy it is to lump different authoritarian statism governments into the same pot.

I mostly agree. I would say that the commie wrap also stems from the caste system. The theocratic means by which a person is assigned a career (and likely compensation) based not on their wishes or even their skill set, but entirely on who their parents are. The artificial and autocratic way in which people and labour are divided has a parallel to some 20th century governments.

Hang on, isn't communism largely (notoriously) defined by opposition to social stratification and religion?

Communism posits an eventually classless society but this has to be achieved through the development of classes under capitalism. These classes are defined by what they do, economically. The most basic distinction is between workers and capitalists. But communist thinkers and politicians theorized many other classes, such as peasants, the bourgeois, and intellectuals. In Russia, there also arose the idea that a certain group of people could somehow be psychologically ahead of the historical curve and therefore should wield all political power on behalf of the people. Therefore, communist societies tend to be organized around class identities and, in practice, there was not a great deal of mobility between them.

So that’s why the Tau using a caste system might have been partially inspired by communism, especially the Soviet flavor.

As to communist opposition to religion: Yes, communism as a philosophical account of the universe explicitly opposes religion in the formal sense and claims that there is nothing beyond the material. However, communism also anticipates a future of great prosperity and harmony that can only be achieved through a struggle that is not only material but also moral and psychological. Sound familiar?

The Tau similarly theorize that a bright and harmonious future can be realized through personal sacrifice and moral struggle. Like IRL Communists, they claim this has nothing to do with supernatural forces but is a scientifically feasible conclusion.

 Red Marine wrote:

 Apple Peel wrote:

 blood reaper wrote:

At least we haven't had anyone claiming a literal Caste based society is Communist though.

I would believe the whole “Tau are commies” bit comes from the idea of working for the Greater Good style propaganda and how easy it is to lump different authoritarian statism governments into the same pot.

The theocratic means by which a person is assigned a career (and likely compensation) based not on their wishes or even their skill set, but entirely on who their parents are. The artificial and autocratic way in which people and labour are divided has a parallel to some 20th century governments.

The Soviets really did not have this; people were handed positions based upon skills (the idea that Communism is a place where everyone is literally equal is very silly, before anyone brings that up). It certainly wasn't well managed, but the idea it was entirely artificial doesn't really match up with reality. There was corruption, but the idea is was purely arbitrary was not 'theocratic' or anything.

 Manchu wrote:
Communism posits an eventually classless society but this has to be achieved through the development of classes under capitalism. These classes are defined by what they do, economically. The most basic distinction is between workers and capitalists. But communist thinkers and politicians theorized many other classes, such as peasants, the bourgeois, and intellectuals. In Russia, there also arose the idea that a certain group of people could somehow be psychologically ahead of the historical curve and therefore should wield all political power on behalf of the people. Therefore, communist societies tend to be organized around class identities and, in practice, there was not a great deal of mobility between them.

So that’s why the Tau using a caste system might have been partially inspired by communism, especially the Soviet flavor.

This isn't really true; Marx understands class as relation to the means of production. Marx also recognised peasants as a class (see any of his writings around the 1848 Revolutions), and the term 'bourgeois' for Marx referred to capitalists. Soviet bureaucrats did not form an economic class,and there was no bourgeois to speak of in the Soviet Union. Yes, as Parenti notes these men had big dachas and benefits not available to the ordinary worker, but they did by no means form a group of economic exploiters who extracted surplus from the working population (disguised by the fact Soviet workers were paid in ruble wages, see Is the Red Flag Flying and Towards a New Socialism).

What you speak about is 'Vanguardism', something posited by Lenin. It does not promote organisation of society around classes; it promotes that a Communist party should organise workers for both parliamentary and revolutionary activity, and be prepared to build alliances with the peasant classes (who might not necessarily be inclined towards socialist revolution). This is detailed in State and Revolution, as well as What is to be Done?. Some of the concepts that Lenin developed were also drawn from The Revolutionary Catechism.

I will also see if I can find my figures around social mobility in the Soviet Union.

As to communist opposition to religion: Yes, communism as a philosophical account of the universe explicitly opposes religion in the formal sense and claims that there is nothing beyond the material. However, communism also anticipates a future of great prosperity and harmony that can only be achieved through a struggle that is not only material but also moral and psychological. Sound familiar?

Communist opposition to religion was more a factor of material conditions more than anything (Marx is wildly misquoted when it comes to that whole 'opiate of the people' thing). Marx is definitely a materialist, however. IIRC the Tau allow people to still worship the Emperor.

What Marx actually posits is that under late stage Communism (Marx divides Communism into two stages) human beings can overcome ''alienation'', a state in which man is alienated from the product of his own labour. There's a few places where Marx describes there would be wider access to resources, but Marx largely does not describe Communism in much detail (he does cite the Paris Commune as an example of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat iirc).

I don't even know what 'The Greater Good' is supposed to be; I don't even think it's properly defined anywhere.