Neo-Luddism

Neo-Luddism is a properly a political and terrorist movement which arose following the Alien Mania period of 2015 to c. 2020. Its roots go back to anti-metahuman and anti-superscience organisation of the 20th century, but it was only with the public realisation that the Guild were not going to be sharing their advance technology with humanity within the lifetimes of anyone then living, even if Earth did attempt to comply with the alien requirements, and a consequent growing dislike of both the aliens and the unobtainable technology associated with them, that the movement became popular. The destructive actions of technological supervillains and super-agent organisations also fuelled the growing discontent.

From about 2020 styles in clothing, architecture and various arts indicate a desire both to cast off the alien influence and to return to the "good old days" - variously interpreted in different regions - and politicians tended to stress "traditional" values; but these manifestation were largely peaceful and of little political effect. With the Casablanca Incident of 2023 and the Day the Earth Stood Still in 2024, however, came a worldwide public outcry against the excesses of science.

The consequences were wide-ranging, from simply the innovative becoming unpopular, to research funds being cut, anti-technology governments being elected and even to the persecution of prominent scientists and the blowing up of high-tech factories. Such extremes might have turned popular sentiment against the Neo-Luddites had not a pro-technology terrorist organisation, the Vanguard of Tomorrow, begun more extreme acts in retaliation. This army of robotic and power-suited terrorists represented all that the public feared. In the face of this enemy, popular support shifted to the extreme Neo-Luddite 'freedom fighters', with their leader (who styled himself General Ludd, after the Luddites of old) who were seen to be battling the Vanguard. At the same time, public opinion ran against the superheroes, who were often seen in possession of advanced technology. Most of them dropped out of the public eye for a number of years, if they didn't cease activities altogether; their numbers had already been dwindling.

The Vanguard of Tomorrow's last terrorist act was in 2030; their final fate was never clear, though they appear to have lost the 'war' against General Ludd. Several people have claimed to be general Ludd up to the present day, but his last demonstrable act was also in 2030, and his true identity remains a mystery.

After 2030 Neo-Luddism, both political and terrorist, went into decline, and gradually science and technology became back in favour with the public. But by that point many scientists had been assassinated or driven underground and many research establishments and high-tech businesses destroyed, setting technological progress back considerably, and public superheroes were rare. Only a new generation fully turned attitudes back to the progressive, and even today super-scientists often keep their most advanced inventions secret from the public, either to protect them from the technology or for fear another Neo-Luddite uprising.