The Benign Union (AUDIO: The Guardians of Prophecy [+]Johnny Byrne and Jonathan Morris, The Lost Stories (Big Finish Productions, 2012)., PROSE: "Posthumanity" [+]Part of The Book of the War, Lawrence Miles, et al., Faction Paradox novels (Mad Norwegian Press, 2002).) was an empire of Arcadian worlds (PROSE: "Posthumanity" [+]Part of The Book of the War, Lawrence Miles, et al., Faction Paradox novels (Mad Norwegian Press, 2002).) formed following the destruction of the Traken Union. It was located in the same "part of the galaxy" as Traken had been. (AUDIO: The Guardians of Prophecy [+]Johnny Byrne and Jonathan Morris, The Lost Stories (Big Finish Productions, 2012).)
The political structure was modelled on the system of government from prior worlds which were popularly remembered as models of polite civilisation, (PROSE: "Posthumanity" [+]Part of The Book of the War, Lawrence Miles, et al., Faction Paradox novels (Mad Norwegian Press, 2002).) such as Traken. While some planets of the Union had democratic governments, the world of Serenity was run by an Elect of Consuls, acting on the advice of Prophecy. (AUDIO: The Guardians of Prophecy [+]Johnny Byrne and Jonathan Morris, The Lost Stories (Big Finish Productions, 2012).)
Like the Traken Union (TV: The Keeper of Traken [+]Johnny Byrne, Doctor Who season 18 (BBC1, 1981).) which it replaced, (AUDIO: The Guardians of Prophecy [+]Johnny Byrne and Jonathan Morris, The Lost Stories (Big Finish Productions, 2012).) the Benign Union was marked by both goodwill and political isolationism. (PROSE: "Posthumanity" [+]Part of The Book of the War, Lawrence Miles, et al., Faction Paradox novels (Mad Norwegian Press, 2002).) Despite its name, the Sixth Doctor considered it not to be benign. (AUDIO: The Guardians of Prophecy [+]Johnny Byrne and Jonathan Morris, The Lost Stories (Big Finish Productions, 2012).)