"Star Wars" and the Rise of Dictatorship

At the Cannes premiere of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, many are talking about the political symbolism of the film, in particular the parallels between the transformation of Republic to Empire under Palpatine and events in the United States since 9/11. But, as I commented elsewhere, the story is repeated throughout history, something Lucas well understands.

Lucas said he patterned his story after historical transformations from freedom to fascism, never figuring when he started his prequel trilogy in the late 1990s that current events might parallel his space fantasy.

"As you go through history, I didn't think it was going to get quite this close. So it's just one of those recurring things," Lucas said at a Cannes news conference. "I hope this doesn't come true in our country."

...

Lucas began researching how democracies can turn into dictatorships with full consent of the electorate.

In ancient Rome, "why did the senate after killing Caesar turn around and give the government to his nephew?" Lucas said. "Why did France after they got rid of the king and that whole system turn around and give it to Napoleon? It's the same thing with Germany and Hitler.

"You sort of see these recurring themes where a democracy turns itself into a dictatorship, and it always seems to happen kind of in the same way, with the same kinds of issues, and threats from the outside, needing more control. A democratic body, a senate, not being able to function properly because everybody's squabbling, there's corruption."

How did National Socialism rise to power in Germany? What were the keys? We start with a scared population. In that case, it was fear of economic ruin and of unrest and civil war. The German mark has become virtually worthless for a time in the early 1920's, so much so that life savings were wiped out to buy a loaf of bread. It was also a time of great instability as the republic tried to fill the power vacuum left by the Hohenzollerns. Communists and nationalists waged war in the streets and state governments were overthrown. So when the Great Depression came just a few years later, the public panicked out of fear that they would be again ruined. There was also fear of civil war instigated by the Communists. In their fear, they turned to the one man in Germany who offered the prospect of strong leadership. Once Hitler had exploited this fear to earn the Chancellorship, he pushed legislation through to give him (well, the cabinet, but that was quickly fixed) dictatorial authority. There was so much fear in Germany at the time--partially stoked by the mysterious Reichstag fire which the Nazis may have started--and desperation for strong leadership to restore the German economy and stability that even German Jewish groups supported Hitler's bid for dictatorship. Once passed, the "last remnants of the old republic [were] swept away" (from New Hope) and the new empire (reich) rose.

It is the rise of Hitler that the Star Wars story of Palpatine most closely mirrors, though there are many similarities to the rise of the Caesars and Napoleon. Certainly, there are ominous parallels in this country. In our fear of terrorism, we have handed unprecedented power to the president and executive branch. Bush exploited fear of terrorism to get himself re-elected. But we aren't yet as far down the path to the dark side that Palpatine ends up.

By the way, the best Star Wars line that applies to the current situation is from New Hope: who is the greater fool, the fool or the fool who follows him? (And yes, I'm sure I butchered both quotes from New Hope from memory.)