"Fear consuming the galaxy?" ~Saga Essay Contest Special Mention~

By Darth-Seldon

Question: How does the Empire compare to the Republic? Is the Empire really all that evil? Use examples from the Saga and other resources to validate your position.


The night sky was filled with those tiny pinpricks of light which are the great thermonuclear reactors of space. Emperor Palpatine was not all powerful, he could not for example move these great lights in the night sky. While he could not do this, Palpatine ruled a totalitarian state which reached out into the void between the stars. To maintain law and order in this state, fear was spread across like a highly contagious plague. Historically, a government which uses fear as a way to generate order is a government looked upon unfavorably. The governments of the galaxy had always been corrupt, whether they were empires or republics. When you must govern over such a mammoth territory, you are destined to be filled with bureaucrats and corruption, this is inevitable. Despite the corruption in the capital, there is a drastic difference between the Galactic Empire and the Galactic Republic. The difference is that one promotes fear and the other does not. The distinction between the governments is one of ideals and principle, that based on this the Republic is better for the galaxy.

The Republic with it?s capital in Coruscant was founded as a democracy to govern the peoples of the galaxy. Each civilization willing to participate elects a representative to take part in the Galactic Senate. The Senators are often manipulated by special interest groups and corporations (The Phantom Menace). It is a group of delegates that find it hard to agree on anything. The Senators and the interests of their respective planets are so diverse that it becomes difficult for any of them to compromise. The Senate elects a Chancellor that acts as the executive of this legislature. There is also a system of Courts which takes a long time to reach any decision (The Phantom Menace). The Trade Federations and other corporations are also represented within this Senate. Any member of this Republic can secede from the union, there is no galactic military until the time of the Clone Wars. The Jedi Knights maintain peace and order in the galaxy and act as mediators in certain conflicts.

The Republic was in a state of decay when Senator Palpatine of Naboo was elected as Supreme Chancellor. With his authority he promised to combat corruption but after ten years he failed his original objective. He slowly manipulated events in the galaxy for his time in office and generated a Constitutional Crisis, a Clone War erupted. With the raging chaos spreading across the galaxy he was able to be granted emergency powers. The birth of the Galactic Empire soon followed.


In the beginning the Empire had an Imperial Senate however it is evident that the Regional Governors and Emperor were always in command of the government. The Jedi Knights were hunted down and killed because they were a threat to this new government. Fear and terror were spread in an attempt to control the masses. The Imperial fleet was scattered across the stars to destroy those who oppose Palpatine. Weapons of massive destruction were constructed to devastate and sometimes destroy entire planets. Races of people were enslaved and aliens were discriminated against.

There will be some who will argue that Palpatine?s rule was not that terrible. That while he held the civilizations in a tight grasp, he allowed them to live better lives. The conflict of the Clone Wars was now over and there was one ruler who made the decisions. The rather foolish Senate was not capable of making a decision and now they had one wise ruler who could speak and decide for everyone. Perhaps the ship of state sailed more smoothly under the reign of Palpatine. Yet one cannot ignore the facts of his administration. His obvious discrimination against aliens as seen in the novels (Thrawn Trilogy, I, Jedi). Fear was used as a tool to trap people and keep them calm under imperial rule. Militarism was a powerful force and the idea that the

 

Thats great Seldon.

 

Thank You severian28.
As you mentioned, this essay was written by me, Darth-Seldon.

 

Darth:

Congrats on winning your prize.

I have to admit that I think that your essay seems a little bit discombobulated. I think if you'd really presented a thesis instead of a collection of brainstorms, I would have enjoyed it more.

Still, it's clear that you've got a firm grasp on abstract ideas of governance and civilization, so props to you for looking at Star Wars from that POV.

Also, after reading it, it definitely has me thinking that Imperial rule was better for the galaxy then the Republic was. What anti-corruption methods could a Republic take, I wonder, to prevent what happened in TPM from happening again?

Congrats again (feels good to finally know what the heck came of the contest, eh?)

 

Thanks DBrennan3333.
It really depends on personal view of government to agree or disagree with the essay. It depends what each person things is more important, whether it be state sponsored fear, or be a strong grasp on the ship of state.

It is abstract in that sense, where it really depends on personal belief of government.

-Seldon

 

Fear, Consuming A Galaxy
Political Analysis applied to 'A Galaxy Far, Far Away'
By Darth-Seldon
(Honorable Mention in Saga Essay Contest)


Question: How does the Empire compare to the Republic? Is the Empire really all that evil? Use examples from the Saga and other resources to validate your position.


The night sky was filled with those tiny pinpricks of light which are the great thermonuclear reactors of space. Emperor Palpatine was not all powerful, he could not for example move these great lights in the night sky. While he could not do this, Palpatine ruled a totalitarian state which reached out into the void between the stars. To maintain law and order in this state, fear was spread across like a highly contagious plague. Historically, a government which uses fear as a way to generate order is a government looked upon unfavorably. The governments of the galaxy had always been corrupt, whether they were empires or republics. When you must govern over such a mammoth territory, you are destined to be filled with bureaucrats and corruption, this is inevitable. Despite the corruption in the capital, there is a drastic difference between the Galactic Empire and the Galactic Republic. The difference is that one promotes fear and the other does not. The distinction between the governments is one of ideals and principle, that based on this the Republic is better for the galaxy.

The Republic with it?s capital in Coruscant was founded as a democracy to govern the peoples of the galaxy. Each civilization willing to participate elects a representative to take part in the Galactic Senate. The Senators are often manipulated by special interest groups and corporations (The Phantom Menace). It is a group of delegates that find it hard to agree on anything. The Senators and the interests of their respective planets are so diverse that it becomes difficult for any of them to compromise. The Senate elects a Chancellor that acts as the executive of this legislature. There is also a system of Courts which takes a long time to reach any decision (The Phantom Menace). The Trade Federations and other corporations are also represented within this Senate. Any member of this Republic can secede from the union, there is no galactic military until the time of the Clone Wars. The Jedi Knights maintain peace and order in the galaxy and act as mediators in certain conflicts.

The Republic was in a state of decay when Senator Palpatine of Naboo was elected as Supreme Chancellor. With his authority he promised to combat corruption but after ten years he failed his original objective. He slowly manipulated events in the galaxy for his time in office and generated a Constitutional Crisis, a Clone War erupted. With the raging chaos spreading across the galaxy he was able to be granted emergency powers. The birth of the Galactic Empire soon followed.

In the beginning the Empire had an Imperial Senate however it is evident that the Regional Governors and Emperor were always in command of the government. The Jedi Knights were hunted down and killed because they were a threat to this new government. Fear and terror were spread in an attempt to control the masses. The Imperial fleet was scattered across the stars to destroy those who oppose Palpatine. Weapons of massive destruction were constructed to devastate and sometimes destroy entire planets. Races of people were enslaved and aliens were discriminated against.

There will be some who will argue that Palpatine?s rule was not that terrible. That while he held the civilizations in a tight grasp, he allowed them to live better lives. The conflict of the Clone Wars was now over and there was one ruler who made the decisions. The rather foolish Senate was not capable of making a decision and now they had one wise ruler who could speak and decide for everyone. Perhaps the ship of state sailed more smoothly under the reign of Palpatine. Yet one cannot ignore the facts of his administration. His obvious discrimination against aliens as seen in the novels (Thrawn Trilogy, I, Jedi). Fea

 

Do read Robert Howard Seldon? Your views on goverments are akin to his.

 

To be honest, I have never even heard of Robert Howard. I will have to check his writings out.

-Seldon

 

Conan. Thats his big ( no pun intended ) character.