The Economics of Politics in Star Wars - Return of the Jedi

The final film of the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi, concludes in the downfall of Emperor Palpatine. Until now, the entire Star Wars saga detailed Palpatine's rise to power, from political manipulation to engineering a galactic war, and his gradual expansion of that power through military might.

After spending forty years tightening his grip over thousands of systems across an entire galaxy, Palpatine faces the threat of defeat from the increasingly powerful Rebel Alliance.

Desperate to keep a firm grip on any wavering planets, Palpatine orders the construction of a second Death Star, more powerful than the first. The Rebel Alliance plans to strike a shield generator on the forest moon of Endor, in order to weaken the defenses of the Death Star enough to attack the core. Though the strike team (led by Leia and Han) is ultimately successful, the Alliance is forced into a pitched battle above Endor.

Rebel intelligence suggested the second Death Star was lightly guarded  and inoperative, both leis deliberately planted by Imperial intelligence officers. Here, one can again the importance of the control of information in maintaining control of empire.

During the battle, Luke Skywalker fights against Darth Vader (his father, the former Anakin Skywalker) on board the Death Star. Palpatine, hoping to repeat the downfall of Anakin as seen in Revenge of the Sith, tries to sway Luke with promises of ultimate power. When he refuses the give in, the Emperor moves to kill him. Darth Vader, when faced with the chance to save his son or let him die, opts to betray the Emperor and throw him deep into core of the Death Star.

Though the Imperial military would survive for another year (before their defeat at the Battle of Jakku), the apparatus of empire has been permanently damaged. The logical successor to the Emperor, his apprentice Darth Vader, was his killer, and soon dies from injuries regardless. Part of the trouble of concentrating supreme power into one individual (or one office) is the chaos that can result on the death of that person. The Empire post-Palpatine was the collapse of his bureaucratic system of government. With no clear strongman holding the disparate Empire together, it began to fracture, and fall apart.

Ultimately, the Emperor failed due to his own hubris. Upon hearing that Anakin Skywalker was the alleged Chosen One who would bring balance to the Force, Palpatine set about grooming the young and powerful Jedi for his eventual fall to the dark side, if only to spite the Jedi Order by corrupting the supposed Chosen One. Vader's eventual rejection of Palpatine, and the dark side, led directly to Palpatine's downfall, fulfilling his alleged prophecy.

All that said, the Rebel Alliance was still successful in their attack on the Death Star. For all of Palpatine's political genius, he was unable to detect the hints of Rebellion already stirring in the first days of Empire. The courageous few Senators dedicated to restoring the Republic, including Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Garm Bel Iblis, secretly funded and began the Rebel Alliance, all while publicly supporting Empire.

Palpatine was always convinced of his ultimate power, especially after the fall of the Republic. Though he had indeed amassed massive control over the galaxy, he was unable to fully control everything. The Rebellion grew in the shadows, remnants of the Jedi Order (like Obi-Wan Kenobi) survived in seclusion, and his death came at the hands of his most trusted subordinate. Empire cannot last in perpetuity, and the power of any individual can never be ultimate.

The Economics of Politics in Star Wars - A New Hope

The first Star Wars film release, A New Hope, takes place approximately nineteen years after the events of Revenge of the Sith. Luke Skywalker, the son of Anakin Skywalker aka Darth Vader, has grown up in a galaxy ruled by the iron fist of the Empire.

In a first of a series of deleted scenes, Luke watches the famous opening of A New Hope from Tatooine, as an Imperial Star Destroyer chases down and captures Tantive IV, controlled by the fledgling Alliance to Restore the Republic (also called the Rebel Alliance). The Rebel Alliance has grown since its inception, primarily through the efforts of dissatisfied Senators in the new Imperial Senate. Unable to limit the Emperor's absolute power in any official capacity, they have slowly begun gathering forces to oppose the Empire.

Later (in another deleted scene), Luke meets up with an old friend, Biggs Darklighter, who has returned from the Imperial Academy while training to be a pilot. He plans to "drop ship" as soon as possible and join the Rebellion instead. Trying to convince Luke, who hates the Empire, to join, Biggs notes the steady growth Imperial involvement in economic affairs.

"You know they're starting to nationalize commerce in the central systems...it won't be long before your uncle is merely a tenant, slaving for the greater glory of the Empire."

Luke's uncle, a small-time moisture farmer, may soon face the threat of directly working for the Empire. The nationalization of key industries, and greater government regulation and control, is a staple for budding totalitarian regimes. The Emperor had already begun nationalization (or, as it sometimes referred to, "Imperialization") immediately following his rise to power, absorbing the commercial apparatus of the former Separatists.

Emperor Palpatine recognizes the importance of economic affairs to the galaxy. In his constant quest for more and more power and control, he has begun to stifle the free economic activity of individuals throughout the galaxy, except those whom he rewards with special favors and contracts.

The Imperial Economy is a classic example of crony capitalism or cronyism, where the market allegedly functions freely, but is in fact heavily influenced and controlled by the government. In this case, the Empire might Imperialize competition, so that one politically favored firm should have an advantage.

Luke eventually does join the Rebellion, flying off Tatooine with the assistance of a famed smuggler, Han Solo. Smugglers like Solo have been on the rise in the Age of Empire, as many seek to engage in economic activity outside of the control of the Imperial bureaucracy in black markets.

In addition to economic controls, growing bureaucracy, and centralization, the new Empire has also channeled immense resources into military buildup. Most famously, as seen in A New Hope, they have constructed a superweapon capable of destroying an entire planet, the Death Star. The Death Star, and the previous military buildup, are the deliberate designs of the Emperor, hell-bent on complete control of the galaxy.

Grand Moff Tarkin, commander of the Death Star, elaborates on the Emperor's plan.

"The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away forever....The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station."

As enough time (nineteen years) passes, even the trappings of the Old Republic are swept away. The Emperor, confident in his power, no longer keeps up the pretense of a republican government. Though written well before the prequel trilogies, the Imperial government in A New Hope fits in well with the standard pattern of totalitarian empire.

Furthermore, the Emperor plans to rule the galaxy through fear. The massive military buildup, the Death Star, the constant threat of Imperialization of commerce. All of it serves to further Palpatine's power and control. Though lauded in his early political career as a great man, one strong enough to "get things done", his creation of Galactic Empire is a perfect illustration of where "greatness" in politicians often leads. The cliche, but true, quote of Lord Acton sums it up.

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

Throughout A New Hope, the dangers of nationalization and government control of an economy, along with the the military buildup and continually increasing power of a totalitarian empire, are well illustrated. Formed under the guise of peace and stability, the Empire has become an instrument of fear and destruction. As with the prequel trilogies, these issues are not necessarily the main focus of the film, but serve as a necessary backdrop in order for the action of the film to take place.

(Analysis continued for The Empire Strikes Back HERE.)