Written by Alden Cutler
Work and especially wealth are two concepts at the heart of the story in Dune (2021). All “thinking
machines” are outlawed in the Dune universe, including computers and artificial intelligence [1]. This is
why the spice melange is one of the most important things in this universe: it allows people to replace
computers for crucial tasks such as navigation through space. As the textbook says, “Information technology
and efficient transportation systems make it easier for a leading product to dominate the worldwide market”
[2]. The only difference is that, in Dune, the spice melange dominates the universal market. A single
resource can make entire economies and power structures rise or fall. As Baron Harkonnen, former ruler of
Arrakis says, “He who controls the spice, controls the universe” [3]. Whichever faction can secure Arrakis
effectively has a chokehold on the economy of the entire universe, concentrating an unimaginable amount of
wealth in the hands of that faction.
While our world may not have a spice melange quite like that of the Dune universe, some of Earth’s resources
are similar in importance. Natural resources such as rare metals and minerals are vital to our society,
powering our cars, phones, and computers. China is estimated to mine over 70% of the world’s ‘rare earths’
and is responsible for over 90% of refining and production [3]. It supplies the United States with “21 of
the 35 minerals that Washington deems critical for its national security and economy” [3]. Of $506.4 billion
in U.S. imports from China in 2021, Machinery and Mechanical Appliances (47.7% of the total) and Base
Metals, Iron, and Steel (5.6% of the total) were two of the largest proportions, adding up to around $269.9
billion in imports from China [4].
In the universe of Dune, the concept of ‘work’ is also inextricably tied to the spice melange. For the
oppressed Fremen natives of Arrakis, work quite literally means working in the dangerous open desert to
extract the spice from the sand. The Fremen workforce is essentially slave labor, with no rights or share of
the immense amount of wealth generated by their work. Even for those in control of Arrakis, their entire
livelihood revolves around the work of harvesting, refining, and selling the spice. Military forces work to
secure the spice fields and trade routes. Every aspect of work is centered around the goal of as much spice
as possible. This mirrors how major industries here on Earth rely on the exploitation of workers. Just as
the rulers of Arrakis exploit the Fremen to collect the spice, fashion brands like Forever 21 contract out
the production of their products to vendors that don’t have to abide by any labor laws [5], exploiting
workers who live in these countries.
References:
[1] Dune Wiki, "Butlerian Jihad" (fandom.com, 4/22/2024), https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Butlerian_Jihad/XD (4/26/2024)
[2] Michael J. Quinn, “Ethics for the Information Age, 8th Edition” (Pearson, 3/5/2019), p. 1192
[3] Shaun Cameron, “Whoever controls the spice, controls the universe” (The Lowy Institute, 1/14/2022),
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/whoever-controls-spice-controls-universe
(4/23/2024)
[4] Office of Technology Evaluation, “U.S. Trade with China” (Department of Commerce, 1/1/2022),
https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/country-papers/2971-2021-statistical-analysis-of-u-s-trade-with-china/file
(4/23/2024)
[5] Lei Nguyen, “Fast Fashion: The Danger of Sweatshops” (Earth.org, 10/10/2022),
https://earth.org/sweatshops/
(4/23/2024)