The Politics of Star Wars: Episode VI
Once again deviating from the traditional episode-by-episode analysis, it’s captivating to witness the vastness of the Star Wars universe even after the retirement of its creator, George Lucas. The acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney in 2012 led to the development of additional stories within the saga. While certain material may not possess the gravitas of Lucas’s work, there are occasionally pleasant, if unsettling, parallels between the current state of affairs in the real world and the decline of democracy.
Its surrounding media—novels, comics, and video games—take on an eerily prophetic quality in light of modern political turmoil. Under Disney’s stewardship, Star Wars has evolved beyond George Lucas’s original vision, but its exploration of democracy’s fragility remains as relevant as ever.
"Operation: Cinder is to begin at once. Resistance. Rebellion. Defiance. These are concepts that cannot be allowed to persist. You are but one of many tools by which these ideas shall be burned away." - Emperor Palpatine, Star Wars Battlefront II
It is impossible to ignore the chilling parallels between the fictional downfall of the New Republic and the real-world erosion of democratic institutions. One of the most shocking moments in American history—the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol—shares disturbing similarities with Star Wars’s own depictions of political collapse.
The insurrection on January 6 was not a spontaneous event; it was incited. After losing the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump actively encouraged his most loyal followers to gather in Washington, D.C., and storm the Capitol. Rioters destroyed property, clashed violently with law enforcement, and even sought to execute then-Vice President Mike Pence for refusing to overturn the election results.
The House January 6 Committee’s final report concluded that Trump engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful election and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol. In the two months following the election, Trump and his inner circle made over 200 attempts to pressure state legislators and election officials to overturn the results. He did not simply “let it happen”—he lit the fire.
Star Wars depicted something eerily similar long before this real-world insurrection. Operation Cinder, a contingency plan enacted after Emperor Palpatine’s death, was designed to punish the Empire itself for failing him. Planets were burned, Imperial loyalists were abandoned, and the fragile New Republic was weakened before it could take full control. Palpatine believed the Empire did not deserve to live beyond him—just as Trump’s actions suggest he was willing to see American democracy burn rather than concede defeat.
"Through the ages, I've seen evil take many forms. The Sith. The Empire. Today, it is the First Order. Their shadows spreading across the galaxy. We must face them. Fight them. All of us.." - Maz Kanata, The Force Awakens
Operation Cinder also laid the groundwork for the First Order, the militant regime that sought to rebuild the Galactic Empire in The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker. The most loyal Imperials fled into the Unknown Regions to regroup and plan their return—just as real-world authoritarian movements have done throughout history.
After World War II, many high-ranking Nazi officials, including Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele, escaped to countries like Argentina and Brazil through secret networks known as “ratlines.” After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia did not transition smoothly into democracy. Vladimir Putin’s rise to power has been an effort to restore Russian imperial strength, mirroring how the First Order seeks to resurrect the Empire. Across the U.S. and Europe, nationalist leaders like Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen, and Viktor Orbán have championed authoritarian policies while claiming to restore their nations’ past greatness—just as the First Order reveres the Empire.
The fall of a dictatorship does not guarantee peace. If history has proven anything, it is that fascism never truly dies—it simply hides, regroups, and returns in another form.
"Today is the end of the Republic. The end of a regime that acquiesces to disorder. At this very moment, in a system far from here, the New Republic lies to the galaxy while secretly supporting the treachery of the loathsome Resistance. All remaining systems will bow to the First Order, and will remember this as the last day of the Republic!" - Armitage Hux, The Force Awakens
If the Death Star in A New Hope was an allegory for nuclear weapons, Starkiller Base represents the modern escalation of that threat. It is a weapon of mass destruction designed not just to kill, but to instill terror on a galactic scale.
The First Order’s aggressive militarism mirrors North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons as a means of forcing political dominance, as well as the U.S. Military-Industrial complex perpetuates the endless cycle of war. This benefits weapons manufacturers and defense contractors, much like how Starkiller Base represents unchecked military escalation. Today’s wars are not only fought with bombs but with viruses, cyberattacks, and propaganda campaigns. The mere threat of destruction is often as powerful as the act itself.
Starkiller Base is a reminder that the pursuit of absolute power always leads to absolute destruction.
“We’re not going back. They’re not taking us back. Our fight for the future is also a fight for freedom.” - Kamala Harris
Unlike the original trilogy’s Rebel Alliance, the Resistance in The Force Awakens is fractured and unsupported. The New Republic, too focused on diplomacy, fails to recognize the looming threat of the First Order. By the time they act, it is too late.
After Russia annexed Crimea, Ukraine had to fight a decentralized, asymmetric war against a much stronger enemy. The lack of decency toward Zelensky by Trump and JD Vance in their show of toxicity and bullying while being undoubtedly in the pocket of Putin is appalling and should be greatly demonized for the treason it very much is.
The warning is clear: when democracies fail to act against rising authoritarian threats, they doom those fighting for freedom.
It’s intriguing to consider less extreme examples, such as how the Tea Party evolved into the current and more modern MAGA movement. The loyalists of Trump, unknowingly blinded by misinformation, turned around and spread it on social media sites. Some of them were even the ones who perpetrated the January 6 insurrection.
As we now face the second term of Donald Trump, unchecked and supported by government systems he intends to dismantle, we must question how this happened. It’s like the infamous line in The Rise of Skywalker, “Somehow Palpatine returned,” many are scratching their heads how this reality could occur with Trump himself.
“We are the spark that’ll light the fire that’ll burn the First Order down.” - Poe Dameron, The Last Jedi
Kylo Ren, unlike Darth Vader, is not just a villain but a radicalized extremist who actively chooses the dark side. Seduced by the myth of power and legacy, his story mirrors how individuals in the real world become radicalized into violent extremist ideologies. This phenomenon is evident in the young men radicalized by extremist ideologies, whether through ISIS recruitment tactics or far-right white supremacist groups in the U.S. and Europe.
Extremists, like Kylo, are drawn into digital communities that glorify violence, nationalism, and hatred. His obsession with legacy and power echoes how modern far-right movements are fueled by discontented youth seeking purpose through extremist ideologies.
The Disney-era of Lucasfilm and Star Wars is but a reflection of 21st-century political turmoil. It warns us of the dangers of complacency, the resurgence of authoritarianism, and the ways in which extremism spreads. As history has shown, the fall of one dictatorship does not guarantee peace. Fascism adapts. Hate lingers. Radicalization thrives when left unchecked. Star Wars reminds us that the fight against tyranny is never truly over—it merely takes new forms.
If we ignore these warnings, we will repeat the past. And next time, the consequences may be even more devastating.