There are six different areas of scientific focus in the game. An empire that is all research and no production will quickly be overwhelmed by its neighbors, while an all production but no research society will fare well for a short time and then find itself unable to hold its gains due to its enemies' superior arms. Birth of the Federation's diplomacy screens are one way to help keep your empire afloat while you're building up your infrastructure. From these screens you'll be able to give gifts to Minor and Major races in order to keep them happy, offer affiliation or membership status to Minor races, make peace treaties, or make demands. There are a scan of minor races in the game, each of whom must be handled differently according to their particular mindset.
Some races respect only money, others respect peace, and some just want to be left alone.
Although you'll get a basic race description when you first come into contact with a new species, learning the nuances of how to deal with each of them simply requires time and patience. Keep in mind that while dealing with small cultures may not seem as important as dealing with the big ones, they can help you by sending out their own combat troops when you're in battle, or by sharing precious resources with you. Okay, that's about all for now. Look for another update in April when we'll cover the game's combat system and special structures. Ah, the Star Wars universe.