Skallagrim
Well-known member
Some general observations. In the old EU, Star Wars shows a pretty consistent cycle in the galaxy's history. It can be very easily summed up:
1) There's a divided galaxy. Regional powers coalesce and compete, leading to unification and/or wars over hegemony. Ultimately, union is achieved.
2) Considering the realities of a galaxy-spanning, multi-species polity, this union has to be dramatically decentralist to function in a way that satisfies the bulk of the populace. (If the union too centralist, dissent simply causes the previous phase of conflict to erupt again, until a unity that can count of clear majority support across the galaxy is achieved.)
3) However, decentralism has its weaknesses. Excesses abound in regions the central government cannot effectively control, creating dissatisfaction. The lack of a strong regime eventually causes a too-weak military as well (evenif this was not initially the case; a weak regime cannot endlessly maintain the proper application of political force that the maintanance of a strong military demands).
4) A contender for power arises. Either an external entity (e.g. Sith invasion) or an internal one (e.g. Palpatine taking over) makes a play for power, effectively using the advantages of centralisation to succeed. Sometimes, both happen in the same era, because one inspires the other. (For instance: Mandalorians invade the complacent Republic, which impels Revan to become a despotic leader figure.)
5) Because, as already noted, centralism on a galactic scale inherently sparks wide-spread opposition on very short notice, galaxy-spanning despotic empires tend to be relatively short-lived. Some kind of coalition arises to overthrow them.
6) Said coalition is inherently anti-centralist. This can lead to the deliberate re-establishment of an explicitly decentralist galactic order. Given the unpleasant memory of the recent centralist tyranny, this eventually works, but won't work forever. We go back to point (2). It can also lead to a fracturing of the galactic order, particularly if the coalition of rebels is only united by the common foe, or if the devastation is particularly dire (to the extent that re-establishing galactic union is simply too difficult to manage). We go back to point (1).
That's it. That's galactic history. Which is also why Star Wars is actually fairly realistic (except it goes back to the stand-by of point (2) too often, while we should see periods of disunity and fracturing more often). This is actually how it would go. But anyway... this tells us precisely what we may expect of the future, in-universe. We have arrived at point (6), after the period of despotism and rebellion.
The old EU persistently suggests that we just go back to point (2). The Empire, the Vong, the One Sith... no matter. Back to stand-by. I have my doubts about the realism of that. Realistically, Legacy would result in a fractured galaxy. You can't just keep throwing crises at the setting and still insist that everything goes "back to normal" afterwards. At some point, "normal" ceases to apply, and what's when the status quo just breaks down. Dark age inbound!
The new continuity has told us much less about 'the future', but we may glean that the New Republic is much more of a basket-case than in the old EU, while the success of the First Order is very telling in itself. Add Palpatine's last bout of planet-destroying and war-mongering, and I'm pretty sure that the galaxy is a fractured mess after the sequels. Dark age inbound!
1) There's a divided galaxy. Regional powers coalesce and compete, leading to unification and/or wars over hegemony. Ultimately, union is achieved.
2) Considering the realities of a galaxy-spanning, multi-species polity, this union has to be dramatically decentralist to function in a way that satisfies the bulk of the populace. (If the union too centralist, dissent simply causes the previous phase of conflict to erupt again, until a unity that can count of clear majority support across the galaxy is achieved.)
3) However, decentralism has its weaknesses. Excesses abound in regions the central government cannot effectively control, creating dissatisfaction. The lack of a strong regime eventually causes a too-weak military as well (evenif this was not initially the case; a weak regime cannot endlessly maintain the proper application of political force that the maintanance of a strong military demands).
4) A contender for power arises. Either an external entity (e.g. Sith invasion) or an internal one (e.g. Palpatine taking over) makes a play for power, effectively using the advantages of centralisation to succeed. Sometimes, both happen in the same era, because one inspires the other. (For instance: Mandalorians invade the complacent Republic, which impels Revan to become a despotic leader figure.)
5) Because, as already noted, centralism on a galactic scale inherently sparks wide-spread opposition on very short notice, galaxy-spanning despotic empires tend to be relatively short-lived. Some kind of coalition arises to overthrow them.
6) Said coalition is inherently anti-centralist. This can lead to the deliberate re-establishment of an explicitly decentralist galactic order. Given the unpleasant memory of the recent centralist tyranny, this eventually works, but won't work forever. We go back to point (2). It can also lead to a fracturing of the galactic order, particularly if the coalition of rebels is only united by the common foe, or if the devastation is particularly dire (to the extent that re-establishing galactic union is simply too difficult to manage). We go back to point (1).
That's it. That's galactic history. Which is also why Star Wars is actually fairly realistic (except it goes back to the stand-by of point (2) too often, while we should see periods of disunity and fracturing more often). This is actually how it would go. But anyway... this tells us precisely what we may expect of the future, in-universe. We have arrived at point (6), after the period of despotism and rebellion.
The old EU persistently suggests that we just go back to point (2). The Empire, the Vong, the One Sith... no matter. Back to stand-by. I have my doubts about the realism of that. Realistically, Legacy would result in a fractured galaxy. You can't just keep throwing crises at the setting and still insist that everything goes "back to normal" afterwards. At some point, "normal" ceases to apply, and what's when the status quo just breaks down. Dark age inbound!
The new continuity has told us much less about 'the future', but we may glean that the New Republic is much more of a basket-case than in the old EU, while the success of the First Order is very telling in itself. Add Palpatine's last bout of planet-destroying and war-mongering, and I'm pretty sure that the galaxy is a fractured mess after the sequels. Dark age inbound!