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Star Warsby John
The Star Wars saga, though packaged in a format designed for thrills and entertainment, draws broad parallels to political patterns in human history. The films portray allegories for the conflict between moral freedom and security during times of strife, and how republican governments can legally and democratically deteriorate into tyrannical regimes. The original Star Wars trilogy depicts a quintessential tyrannical regime: an Empire that rules the galaxy with an iron fist, led by Emperor Palpatine, a tyrant who is corrupted by absolute power. The new films, though certainly artistically inferior to the originals, have the more ambitious task of explaining just how the Empire came to be. Not surprisingly, this explanation has direct roots in basic political history; namely, ancient Roman history and the rise of Nazi Germany. The prequel trilogy begins with The Phantom Menace, which takes place roughly 40 years before the events of the first Star Wars film. At this point in the story, the galaxy is presided over by a representative government called the Republic, which is in a weakened state of greedy complacency and corruption overtaken by powerful financial interests. Palpatine is an ambitious senator in the Republic's Galactic Senate, but he is soon elected to the office of Chancellor after the planet he represents comes under attack and generates a strong sympathy vote. This is reminiscent of highly ambitious politicians such as Julius Caesar and Adolf Hitler, who rose in the ranks during desperate times of escalating conflicts and ailing representative governments, which shows how tyranny germinates from within. In the next episode, Attack of the Clones, which takes place 10 years after the previous film, it is implied that Palpatine's Chancellorship has been extended by multiple elections, thanks to the Republic's willingness to comply in the interest of security. In addition, in order to safeguard against a perceived separatist threat and therefore a looming civil war, the Republic agrees to temporarily give up its personal freedoms, granting the Chancellor emergency powers to make political decisions that bypass normal procedures. Palpatine's extended Chancellorship and legal expansion of power in the Republic occurs all in the interest of safety and protection against the Separatists during a time of civil war, but Palpatine's "temporary" powers will effectively be made permanent by a continued willingness on the part of the Republic to renew and strengthen them as long as war continues to rage. In 81 B.C., while Rome was still a republic but beleaguered by internal problems, the general Sulla was appointed dictator of Rome, a rare title only given during times of extreme danger and only for six-month periods. However, this time Sulla's term did not have a limit. Sulla's dictatorship served as a precedent nearly 40 years later when the notoriously ambitious Julius Caesar, after accepting repeated appointments as dictator, was soon appointed dictator for life in 44 B.C. Caesar's ensuing assassination allowed unrest in Rome to continue, until Caesar Augustus ended the strife and was later granted imperial powers in 23 B.C., becoming the first Emperor of Rome and replacing a republic with an empire.
In Revenge of the Sith, what inevitably takes place is the end of the civil war, but also the final transition from Republic to Empire as the Chancellor consolidates all power and proclaims himself the tyrannical despot depicted in the original trilogy. Similarly, with Hitler sworn in as Chancellor of the failing German Weimar Republic in 1933, human rights were soon legally suspended by the controlling Nazi Party for "the protection of people and state" through what is known as the Reichstag Fire Decree. Next was the Enabling Act, which legally established Hitler's dictatorial control over Germany. The full name of this act was "Law to remedy the misery of the people and the country," and under its provisions would expire after four years or before the installation of a new government. The act, however, was renewed every four years, legally ensuring Hitler's authority as he continued to issue oppressive decrees that solidified his tyrannical powers. Although this historical overview is terribly superficial, it serves to show how the Star Wars series draws on existing patterns in history to make its fantastical world connect more concretely with audiences, as well as to provoke them to seek out deeper reflection about the world. For example, why exactly would people give up their rights as citizens and protectors of liberty during times of strife, in favor of granting the government and political leaders more power and authority? The films give one clear answer: the prevalence and the power of fear overriding rational and moral judgment. History has shown that we want to feel secure so badly during times of "misery," war or general strife that we are willing to alter justice for added protection and place our hopes in a strong, ambitious and popular leader. The irony, of course, is that this rationale paves the way for an increasingly insidious tyranny that goes against natural moral freedoms. Part IV: The Metaphor of Good Versus Evil
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