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"And don't forget she's a politician. They're not to be trusted."
―Obi-Wan Kenobi, about Padmé Amidala
―Obi-Wan Kenobi, about Padmé Amidala
Star Wars - When we look at everything from the prequels, all the way through to the current movies - have in my view had somewhat of a focus on Politics. I was discussing this with a friend the other day, and decided that maybe I should put pen to paper and express it here as well, so it would be great to get your opinions on this, members of SWRP!
Within Star Wars, there have always been different Government Factions, and when one digs deeper, it is easy to come across the stray names of some of the Political Groups within them. Building on this, I was thinking ‘How would the Politics of Star Wars match up with real world Political Schools?’ - and well, here are those thoughts.
- The Senate
- The Core Faction
- The Rim Faction
- Noted Senators & Politicos
When it comes to the Senate, I think there is often a tendency to view them as a ‘Sci Fi Version’ of the United States Government - a tendency that I think is incorrect. For clarity before I go, I am referring here to the Senate as we see it in the Prequels. Personally, I feel that the Senate is much more like the United Nations - as we see many times people within the films and books complaining that it has little real power.
Taking the Naboo Blockade as an example - there are several times that the United Nations was effectively powerless to intercede in wars, genocides and more in other nations. Reading into this further, the Senate doesn’t actually have a huge amount of power, indeed, acquiring further powers is what causes many of the ‘Nice’ Senators to sound the alarm, and leads to an Empire being founded.
In the prequels, I do think that the Political Element of Star Wars drives the story a lot more than the war does - and furthermore, I think that they have a very odd system of views and beliefs - say in comparison to today. Take for example the influence of the Jedi Order - which is (if I was to be harsh) a Religious Order, into which only those born with the correct qualities may be admitted.
To go off on a slight sidetrack here - I have said before, and I will say it again - I cannot understand why a large number of people see Princess Organa, Padme and others as such awesome and charming people? Character Wise they’re lovely, but they found themselves born into power (admittedly, the Skywalker Family is kind of the main point of star wars I know) but removing plot devices from this - Padme and Bail Organa did no more to earn their place than Palpatine did.
Padme was selected based on her IQ as a child, and then fell in with the elite from there.
Bail Organa was literally born into it.
Then dearest Padme has the audacity to say ‘’And this is how democracy dies….’’ when the Senate gives the Chancellor more and more powers and declared him Emperor. Had CNN been in the films, the headlines would have been wonderful ‘’Selection of Hereditary Monarchs complain about unelected boss.’’
Anyway, back on track.
The Jedi - thanks to their Force Abilities - hold an almost mystical place in society, permitted to observe the Senate, they have unmonitored access to the Chancellor, and their power and influence is vast. In itself, this in my mind almost makes the Republic close to a Theocracy - and it is easy to start to understand why some of the Separatist States had been so easily won over Sidious.
Looking at the Senate in more detail: From my limited understanding of planets in Star Wars, it looks to me like there is a vast gulf between the wealth and development of the Core Worlds, and then those in the Outer and Mid Rims. This in itself would lead to a natural division between the senators of those worlds (and actually splits them into factions as I go into later).
The information I can find on the senate factions comes from the Plagiues (or however the hell you spell it) book, and then is amended by my personal observations.
The Core Faction
This faction within the Senate was, as the name would suggest, founded by Senators from the Core worlds, and is described as being “politically liberal, and so advocated increasing, or at least maintaining, the authority and powers of the Republic government.” we also know that it was from this faction that Bail Antilles, and Finis Valorum hailed.
In my mind, this has always been the more traditionalist faction - however, upon closer inspection that may be far from the truth. Actually, I think that may come from my simple understanding of it - and a mix between UK and USA politics, which are very very different.
Almost all members of this faction are human, or near human, coming from older, wealthier and more developed planets in the core. A significant number of these worlds are ecumenopolis planets, and many actually founded the Republic itself. It is therefore hardly a shock that they advocate for a strong government.
From my personal reading, and do let me know if this makes sense, or you disagree - I would say that they fall into the following areas. Economically Liberal, these planets follow the idea that Government should not intercede in the affairs of big business (hence why many of them did not like the idea of restricting the Trade Federation) whilst at the same time they hold Social Conservative values - in a sense that they back supporting the Monarchy/a Civic Class. I would also add that - given the history of the worlds, and then their future - they are Colonialist, and then later Imperialist (name a core world who stood against the Empire, and had a monarchy?).
All in all, I would say that this faction is ‘Conservative Liberalism’ in nature.
The Rim Faction
This faction is meant to be the one that represents the Rimward worlds - and it is in my eyes a bit of a miracle they don’t dominate the Senate more - as there seem to be ‘bloody thousands of ‘em’. Made up primarily of Aliens, they are described as ”They were a politically conservative party and so advocated reducing the power and influence of the Republic government, especially in economic and trade matters.’’.
I think this description can be taken with a pinch of salt, as it seems (using the Clone Wars as an example) that this group was exceptionally corrupt, and their policies changed with the wind - maybe answering my earlier question as to why they did not dominate the Senate more. This group moved to back Palpatine (even though he was an Independent) and then promptly changed their policies to back his pro-Imperialist Agenda.
In all honesty I would say it is damn hard to actually call what they stood for, but based on the official line they give, I would say you have a ‘Conservative Nationalist’ group. I think a noted shift in their policies, backed by a hell of a lot of bribes, came when Valorum stepped down, and they backed Palpatine, who defeat Bail Antilles for the role of Chancellor.
Imagine how different Star Wars would have been, if Antilles had won?
Noted Senators and Politicos
With the split of the Senate being a choice between ‘Right Wing or Right Wing’ that leaves most of the ‘interesting’ Senators as Independents - for example, Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, Padme Amidala and the might Sheev Palpatine had ways of thinking that defied the popular trend in their factions.
Padme Amidala is probably the most well known Senator in Star Wars, and aside from her husband's controversial view on sand, was in my view, obviously intended to be the polar opposite of Anakin in how she saw the world. Anakin sees the Galaxy as something to be controlled, Padme sees the Galaxy as something to be cared for.
Despite this, I still am not a fan of her. She is always held up in my eyes, as some sort of angelic figure, but I do not think this is accurate of her beliefs at all. She was a consummate elitist in my opinion, spending more time in both books, comics and films with the elites of the galaxy than with anyone else.
That being said, it is the role of a Senator in Star Wars to act as Ambassador for their Planet's Government, and not to circumvent their Planets leader - so I suppose she was doing a good job there.
When we look at two of Padmes political allies Bail Organa and Mon Mothma I think we see two people with views that stood out like a sore thumb in the Senate. Taking the Expanded Universe, Mon Mothma is in my opinion, one hell of a character - and despite her calm appearance on screen - she is a crafty and strong willed political operator. Throughout the EU, she always advocated against a strong central Government, and at one point actually tried to disband the Rebel Alliance Council as a ‘secret council reeked of empire’. I would say that she was Classically Liberal in nature.
Taking a look at Bail Organa however, and he is a different kettle of fish all together. A Monarchist, strongly pro-Jedi - I would say that he was slightly more anti-Government that the rest of the Core Faction - which is maybe why he was able to get on with others in the Rim Faction so well? There is also a great comic in the EU in which he actually finds Valorum after he goes into hiding, and begs him to come back and help stop Palpatine becoming Emperor - very interesting, as Valorum and Bail had never been on good terms at all.
So, after a lot of frantic typing - there you have it, my first little nerdgasm around the politics of star wars, and no doubt there will be others to come. I may do another one on the Separatists at some point, but, if you can be bothered to read this massive post - let me know what you think!
A few questions for you all -
1 - Do you think the Jedi had too much power in the Republic?
2 - Do you agree that the Padmes and Bails of Star Wars are hypocritical to call out Palpatine for making himself Emperor?
3 - What are your views on how the Senators of Star Wars align to real world politics?