We have had theoretical discussion of squibs in the kids conversations on how magic works: they are being taught that squibs are caused when a Muggle family steals the squib's magic in order to endow their own Muggleborn child with magical ability. Lucius had to admit to Pansy that the Ministry is studying how that works and can't yet explain it.
I've wondered about Filch's absence. Where are the Wizards warehousing their squib children?
As for Muggle "foremen"; I think you are right that the Ministry doesn't have a program of elevating some to manage the rest, but Arthur does this in an ad hoc way when he goes to the camps just before Bonfire Night and talks to the chap who had been elected Mayor of his city (http://alt-arthur.livejournal.com/2355.html), according him respect and seeking his help in keeping the disturbances down to a minimum.
I ended up meeting earlier this week with the Headman at the Norwich Muggle camp, a man by the name of Gideon Knight. I was impressed enough by him that I checked his file after the meeting: seems he was in the middle of standing election for mayor of his city before the Troubles swept him into the camps along with everyone else, and I've no doubt there's a keen mind beneath that bland exterior. He's lucky he wasn't killed along with so many other political leaders in 1985. Probably thanks his stars that his election had not been finalised yet when the Lord Protector came to power.
Arthur makes a pragmatic appeal, saying that the camps can't afford to lose numbers to another round of Muggle bashing by the DEs, and the man, though he distrusts Arthur, seems to see the logic of this. This supports your observation as the exception that proves the rule: Arthur is definitely NOT acting according to Ministry policy in dealing with this "headman" of the camp.
As for population purges. We do have some signs that there were mass killings early on in the LP's seizure of Britain from Muggle control:1. Arthur's description of the troubles in the quote above, which reveals that they killed all the elected leaders early on 1A. Equivocal evidence about the fate of the Royal family: Voldemort and Harry lived in Buckingham Palace (referenced several times, but first by Dennis), and yet, Pansy made an admiring reference, during her pro-Muggle rants, about the Prince of Wales 2. Lupin (thanks, Wintercreek!) told Harry in comments that Muggle doctors were among the first to be killed, but then struck through that comment (http://alt-lupin.livejournal.com/2115.html?thread=10819#t10819), apparently thinking that the LP would not much like his son to learn that lesson in realpolitik. I think, on the whole, this evidence supports (or allows) your implication that we haven't seen signs of a purge of massive proportions. Instead, it seems that the Protectorate wiped out what you term the "intermediate class," seeking to eliminate all leaders who might rally and manage the masses, but leaving the masses mostly alive and subdued in the camps. Sirius (and Dumbledore?) and the Order (in so far as it is acting in a uniform way) appear to share your assessment of the flaws of the Protectorate's strategy, seeking to mobilize the masses to rise up against the Protectorate's very small defensive force.
What's harder to measure is how much magic makes up for the massive population gap. That's what makes this situation different from real world colonial examples.
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Transfering this from other thread (with additions)...
Date: 2008-11-15 02:34 am (UTC)I've wondered about Filch's absence. Where are the Wizards warehousing their squib children?
As for Muggle "foremen"; I think you are right that the Ministry doesn't have a program of elevating some to manage the rest, but Arthur does this in an ad hoc way when he goes to the camps just before Bonfire Night and talks to the chap who had been elected Mayor of his city (http://alt-arthur.livejournal.com/2355.html), according him respect and seeking his help in keeping the disturbances down to a minimum. Arthur makes a pragmatic appeal, saying that the camps can't afford to lose numbers to another round of Muggle bashing by the DEs, and the man, though he distrusts Arthur, seems to see the logic of this. This supports your observation as the exception that proves the rule: Arthur is definitely NOT acting according to Ministry policy in dealing with this "headman" of the camp.
As for population purges. We do have some signs that there were mass killings early on in the LP's seizure of Britain from Muggle control:
1. Arthur's description of the troubles in the quote above, which reveals that they killed all the elected leaders early on
1A. Equivocal evidence about the fate of the Royal family: Voldemort and Harry lived in Buckingham Palace (referenced several times, but first by Dennis), and yet, Pansy made an admiring reference, during her pro-Muggle rants, about the Prince of Wales
2. Lupin (thanks, Wintercreek!) told Harry in comments that Muggle doctors were among the first to be killed, but then struck through that comment (http://alt-lupin.livejournal.com/2115.html?thread=10819#t10819), apparently thinking that the LP would not much like his son to learn that lesson in realpolitik.
I think, on the whole, this evidence supports (or allows) your implication that we haven't seen signs of a purge of massive proportions. Instead, it seems that the Protectorate wiped out what you term the "intermediate class," seeking to eliminate all leaders who might rally and manage the masses, but leaving the masses mostly alive and subdued in the camps. Sirius (and Dumbledore?) and the Order (in so far as it is acting in a uniform way) appear to share your assessment of the flaws of the Protectorate's strategy, seeking to mobilize the masses to rise up against the Protectorate's very small defensive force.
What's harder to measure is how much magic makes up for the massive population gap. That's what makes this situation different from real world colonial examples.