ST The empire shouldn't even still exist.

Think back to the 50's, the 60's, the 70's and the 80's; remember the Cold War; remember the old Soviet Union -the evil empire itself. People hated living under it. Hated it. They were desperate for freedom. There were a fair few defectors but not to many as it was just so hard to get out. The Soviet authorities could control their borders, airports and seaports. There's no way whatsoever to control people's movement in Star Wars. If you have access to a spaceship then you can just leave your planet and go anywhere. The Empire couldn't even stop the Millenium Falcon from fleeing Tatooine. It would take a hundred Star Destroyers just to lock down one planet and even then you could still get past them. In Star Wars there would be vast numbers of people fleeing the Imperial systems. No one would stay and the Empire can't stop them from leaving.

 

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the Soviet Union is nowhere near as big as the Empire was, nor did it have as much control.

 

Here's your answer.

 

The Empire was the galactic hegemon for decades…at least until the civil war…and even then maybe.

 

We dont know who the Factions are for the Disney trilogy.....we dont know if the Empire and Rebelion have merged or evoled into some other government. I do agree, neither should be present as they were after 35 years.

 

In before the restraining bolt.

 

A unfashionably huuuge empire that spanned the entire galaxy...it's not going to have shrivelled and disappeared to nothing in only 30 years!

 

LOLZ, that is priceless.

 

http://boards.theforce.net/threads/the-empire-in-the-st.50017557/

 

Not this thread again. In before the level 100 Worgen Warlock

 

The chicken thread is very funny, so thanks for posting.

With regards to the empire being much bigger than the old Soviet Union. Yes it is. With regards to it being more in control. Noooo it isn't. The reason there were so few defectors from the Soviet Union was that they controlled their borders, their airports and their seaports to stop people escaping to freedom, which they longed to do. The empire cannot control and restrain it's citizens. If you have access to a spaceship then you can leave the empire. Simples! They cannot stop you going unless they have 100 * 1 mile long Star Destroyers per planet. They don't. You can just go. They cannot control their borders. Billions if refugees escaping to freedom.

 

The Roman Empire lasted 1000+ years. A Galaxy-spanning empire can't even last 30?

 

If this is true, how did the Empire have control in the first place? And plenty of governments and ideologies that aren't in control still exist.

 

Don't underestimate the Dark Side!!!

 

Obi Wan once thought as you do...

 

I feel like this was a more appropriate argument to have in 1991 when Heir to the Empire came out.

 

I agree that it shouldn't exist in full force- that would really be upsetting.

However, existing in a smaller portion of the galaxy is possible.

It's easy to defeat and get them out of their position of being the head honchos of the galaxy.

It's much more difficult to eliminate what's left of them.