The Politics of Star Wars: Episode I
Star Wars has always been a cautionary tale about the dangers of war, authoritarianism, and unchecked power. It is deeply rooted in historical allegory, and nowhere is this clearer than in The Phantom Menace. Despite criticism at the time of its release for being “too political,” the film is a stark reflection of real-world events, particularly trade-driven wars and the Gulf War. The fact that many dismissed its themes only underscores how little we have learned from history.
“One frequent criticism is that The Phantom Menace is dull. This criticism is directed at the plot of the taxation of trade routes and the scenes in the senate.” - Michael Moran, Den of Geek
The original Star Wars trilogy drew heavily from the Vietnam War and the dangers of the military-industrial complex. The Phantom Menace, however, shifts focus to trade as a precursor to war—an idea that is anything but fiction. Throughout history, wars have erupted over trade disputes: the Opium Wars, the Anglo-Dutch Wars, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812 all began due to economic conflicts. Even World War II was exacerbated by the economic depression and protectionist trade policies like the Smoot-Hawley Tariff.
Yet, when The Phantom Menace presented a galactic trade dispute leading to war, critics scoffed at its political nature. The film’s Trade Federation blockading Naboo over trade routes and taxation mirrors centuries of real-world conflicts. The backlash to this plot point reveals a disturbing ignorance of history—an ignorance that allows history to repeat itself.
Beyond trade disputes, The Phantom Menace draws clear parallels to one of the most defining conflicts of the late 20th century: Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the subsequent Gulf War.
“That meeting was more or less of a charade. They had planned to invade all along.” - H.E. Sheikh Salam Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, The Liberation of Kuwait
The film begins with Jedi ambassadors attempting to negotiate peace as Naboo faces a blockade by the Trade Federation. Diplomacy fails, revealing that the invasion was always the true intention. This is a direct reflection of the Gulf War. In July 1990, Saddam Hussein positioned his forces along Kuwait’s border, creating international concern. Yet, many world leaders assumed Iraq would not be reckless enough to invade. Diplomatic efforts continued—until August 2, 1990, when Iraq launched a full-scale invasion. The negotiations were nothing but a smokescreen.
In the film, Queen Amidala is quickly overrun and forced to flee, while the Emir of Kuwait barely escaped capture thanks to the use of decoys, a strategy mirrored by Amidala’s own deceptive tactics. Meanwhile, Iraq’s forces marched on Kuwait City, intending to capture and likely kill the Emir, just as the Trade Federation sought to seize control of Theed. Saddam Hussein’s forces even brought coffins intended for the Emir, a macabre symbol of their planned victory.
The film also depicts Amidala pleading before the Galactic Senate, seeking help for her people—just as Kuwait’s diplomats appealed to the United Nations for intervention. The key difference? In reality, the UN spearheaded a military coalition that expelled Iraq. In The Phantom Menace, the Galactic Senate is too corrupt and divided to act, foreshadowing the decline of democracy in the Star Wars universe.
The liberation of Naboo mirrors the military strategies used in Operation Desert Storm. Amidala unites with the native Gungans, using their army to create a diversion, drawing Trade Federation forces away from the capital and allowing an insurrection to take place. This is strikingly similar to the “Left Hook” strategy used by U.S. forces in Kuwait—where misleading broadcasts suggested a direct attack while the real assault came from an unexpected direction, overwhelming Iraq’s defenses.
Hussein’s primary objective while seizing control of Kuwait was to acquire its oil reserves and wells, thereby gaining political and financial influence while simultaneously expanding his territory.
Naboo’s primary export is plasma, a Star Wars equivalent of oil that serves as a crucial resource for blasters, shields, and hover-technologies. Consequently, the Federation’s desire to control Naboo’s energy resources is understandable, as it serves as a form of retaliation against the Republic’s taxation and implementation of tariffs.
Once again, Lucas’s storytelling is rooted in history. The film is not just a fun space opera—it’s a reflection of how conflicts are manufactured, how war is waged, and how power is manipulated.
The Gulf War was not an isolated event. It laid the foundation for future conflicts, including the War on Terror. Just as the events of The Phantom Menace set the stage for the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire, the Gulf War contributed to the conditions that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the rise of Al-Qaeda, whose origins trace back to earlier conflicts like the Soviet-Afghan War.
Lucas wrote the prequels before these modern wars unfolded, yet their eerie relevance cannot be ignored. The political corruption, corporate influence, and military interventions depicted in Star Warswere not just warnings—they were predictions.
“Enter the bureaucrats, the true rulers of the Republic, and on the payroll of the Trade Federation.” - Sheev Palpatine, The Phantom Menace
Palpatine’s machinations in The Phantom Menace operate on two levels, each as insidious as the other. Publicly, the invasion of his homeworld is a calculated provocation, engineered to propel him into the office of Supreme Chancellor. By manipulating sympathy and outrage, he positions himself as the Republic’s necessary savior—an advocate for stronger oversight and decisive action against corruption. His plan doesn’t stop at political maneuvering; it thrives on chaos. The same corporate interests he decries will soon be twisted into serving as pawns in a manufactured war, reborn as the Separatists under Sith control.
Meanwhile, behind the curtain, Palpatine—Darth Sidious—pulls the strings with the cold precision of a master puppeteer. The Trade Federation’s blockade isn’t just a means to an end; it’s a trap of his own design, coercing the Federation into a role they barely understand. His ploy echoes a far murkier piece of real-world history: the Gulf War’s prelude. April Glaspie, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, infamously told Saddam Hussein that America had "no position" on Iraq’s dispute with Kuwait—an omission widely interpreted as a green light for invasion. Whether this was a blunder or a deliberate baiting tactic remains debated, but much like Palpatine, Hussein played his own game of deception. In both cases, war wasn’t an accident—it was the plan all along.
Perhaps the most damning and overlooked element of The Phantom Menace is its depiction of corporate control over politics. The Trade Federation and its allies—the Techno Union, the InterGalactic Banking Clan, and the Commerce Guild—are all business conglomerates wielding political power. They fund wars, manipulate governments, and protect their own financial interests over the well-being of the people.
Sound familiar?
Today, Super PACs, lobbyists, and billionaire-funded political campaigns have turned democratic systems into playgrounds for corporate oligarchs. The Phantom Menace warned us about this in 1999, yet we dismissed it. Now, we watch as unelected billionaires like Elon Musk openly influence global politics, while politicians prioritize corporate interests over public welfare.
Lucas’s depiction of a corrupt, ineffectual Galactic Senate manipulated by corporate power is not just science fiction—it’s a mirror held up to our own world. And we are watching it play out in real time.
“I love history, so while the psychological basis of ‘Star Wars’ is mythological, the political and social bases are historical.” - George Lucas, The Boston Globe
The irony of The Phantom Menace is that its critics missed the entire point. It was never just about podracing and lightsabers. It was a warning—one that was misunderstood, mocked, and ignored. Palpatine’s slow consolidation of power mirrors historical figures who exploited chaos to seize control. His ascension echoes the rise of Adolf Hitler, who leveraged Germany’s economic collapse and the Reichstag Fire to push the Enabling Act, giving him near-dictatorial powers. Similarly, Julius Caesar capitalized on the instability of the Roman Republic, using political maneuvering and civil unrest to justify his rise. Like Palpatine, these figures claimed to act in the people's interest while methodically dismantling democratic structures.
The Separatist movement, manipulated by the Sith, is reminiscent of Cold War proxy conflicts, where economic and political interests drove war efforts. The Vietnam War, for instance, wasn’t just about ideology—it was fueled by corporate and military-industrial interests. The Trade Federation’s role as a corporate-backed military force mirrors real-world conglomerates profiting from conflict, much like defense contractors during Vietnam.
Now, as we witness the same political corruption, corporate dominance, and manufactured wars, perhaps it’s time to stop dismissing Star Wars as mere escapism. The saga has always been about the fall of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism. The prequels, in particular, should be studied, not ridiculed.
Yes, The Phantom Menace was political. And yes, it was right. Maybe now, two decades later, we should start paying attention.