Skyrim Civil War: What Does It Say about Your Politics? (Survey)

Submit your vote now. No, seriously — please take this survey. For science (fiction).

Jarl Ulfric led a nativist rebellion against the Empire; does that say something about his supporters? (Source)

In the 2011 Bethesda game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, we take on the role of the Dovahkiin (the Dragonborn), in order to save the land of Skyrim from an apocalypse at the hands of Alduin, the World-Eater. Along the way, however, we find that there are many detailed side quests, almost as detailed as the main plot. This includes the Skyrim Civil War, also known as the Stormcloak Rebellion, and the element of choice that players are allowed in this conflict provokes some interesting questions about players and their political preferences.

Some context: Ulfric Stormcloak, claiming to be the true High-King of Skyrim, leads an alliance of Nords (the native race of Skyrim) in a war of independence against the Septim Empire. The Stormcloaks cite the White-Gold Concordat, a peace treaty that banned their main religion, as an infringement of Nord rights and the casus belli. The Imperials argue that the Concordat was necessary to end a previous war with the Thalmor and protect all of Tamriel, to include Skyrim, from destruction. Ultimately, it is the player who has to decide which side is right.

When I played, I chose the side of the Imperials. I thought theirs was the more just point of view. I have a very cosmopolitan set of beliefs, so the idea of an empire that unifies multiple nations under a common set of law and order was directly appealing to me. In addition, the language and motives of the Stormcloaks struck me as somewhat backwards and primitive. The idea of Skyrim being a land of the Nords and only the Nords had violent, racist undertones to it. The answer seemed clear to me.

When I finished that quest with the slaying of Ulfric and total victory for the Empire, I made an announcement of my accomplishment over Facebook. One of my close friends humorously commented: “I don’t like this. Long live the Stormcloaks.” I realized in that moment that my obvious choice was not so obvious to everyone else. It got me thinking as to why these divergences might occur.

For me and my friend, it seemed like there were some parallels between our choices and our beliefs. I, as my profile states, am a Democrat, but my friend is a Republican. Despite both being Southerners, I sympathize with the Union, while he sympathizes with our homeland Confederacy. I am a secular deist, while he is an evangelical Christian. This last trait in particular appears relevant because it would explain his support for the religious freedom of the Nords.

Still, we are just two people. What is more interesting is what is true at the aggregate, and so I have developed a simple survey to see if there is any correlation between one’s political views and their side in the war. I ask all of you who read this to take it and answer as accurately as you are able. You can view the survey here. It should only take a minute of your time.