User blog comment:Unrulyruby100/See Molotov. See Molotov read too much into prejudice in the game./@comment-161.253.97.183-20121202225748/@comment-27202257-20121203233105

That's the problem though: contempt breeds contempt. Because the people of Dunwall, who are the ruling powers of the Empire, reduce the other nations to stereotypes, they get the same in return. That ends up informing policy decisions made by the other nations.

And yes, that's definitely true that the other nations made their decisions based on politics. However, the tone of their interactions will inform those politics. Say Corvo goes to Morley to beg aid. The government of Morley would probably take into account things like their available resources and self-preservation. However, they might also think to themselves, "Well, the ruling elite of Dunwall have been oppressive, dehumanizing shits to us, and that has negatively affected how they treat us as a territory and a people. Why not say fuck 'em and let the problem work itself out? Maybe the next government won't be as bad--or hey, maybe it'll fall apart and we'll be our own state again!"

I will agree that the other probably didn't think they could be of any help, and in the end it was a question of what each nation could afford to do. However, I also think that you're much more likely to give of yourself to help someone you like rather than some jerk you tolerate. That could have affected how the nations responded to the crisis in Dunwall.

That, and the racism angle still seems to play into the theme of dehumanization in Dunwall throughout the game, at least in my mind.