Fascism

Fascism was a political philosophy based on militant totalitarianism.Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy The Galactic Empire and its successor state, the First Order, were both considered fascist governments. Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine hid his policies behind the veneer of political populism, painting himself as a man of the people who had ended the Clone Wars and who would usher in a new era of prosperity for the average worker. Senator Mon Mothma, one of Palpatine's political opponents, saw through Palpatine's image and knew he was simply restructuring galaxy power into the hands of himself and his followers.
The Bith artist Janyor referred to the Galactic Empire as fascist, expressing his disgust with the propaganda piece Imperius Unitada ober Totallex use of fascist imagery. Similarly, during the Battle of Hoth, Rebel Communications Officer Toryn Farr had a moment where she questioned why she was the one to order Echo Base's ion cannon to fire against the fascist oppression of the Empire, though she ignored her moment of doubt and gave the command.
The rise of the First Order was regarded as a return of militarism and fascism to the galaxy. During the First Order-Resistance War, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren decreed the elimination of all Resistance collaborators and other subversives who opposed the First Order.Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary During Ren's rule, some civilians unaffiliated with the larger movement begun by Ren's mother, Leia Organa, resisted what they described as the First Order's fascist takeover of the galaxy.
==Behind the scenes==
Fascism was first mentioned in the current canon continuity in the 2014 video game Star Wars: Commander and is used to designate the Galactic Empire regime,Star Wars: Commander which first appeared in George Lucas' 1977 film, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. The Galactic Empire was first referred to as being fascist in 2008 through the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game.Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
In the real-world, fascism is an authoritarian political ideology most prominent in Italy and Germany between the First and Second World Wars. Fascist regimes entailed the dominance of a cult of personality and the term originated from the the Latin "fasces."Fascism: a Warning
George Lucas' original idea for the Empire was both politically and aesthetically inspired by fascist regimes like Nazi Germany in addition to the rise of consumerist and strong capitalist culture in the "American empire."Star Wars: Behind the Magic The original trilogy concept artist Ralph McQuarrie drew on Nazi imagery in designing Imperial stormtroopers.Entertainment Weekly's Ultimate Guide to Rogue One The closing scene of A New Hope, in which the Rebel Alliance assembles to celebrate its victory over the Empire at the Battle of Yavin, was inspired by the imagery of the 1935 Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will.
==Appearances==
*Star Wars: Commander 
*Doctor Aphra (2016) 6 
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*Star Wars (2020) 9 
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==Sources==
*Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy
*Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary
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*Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire
==Notes and references==
==External links==
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Category:Culture of the First Order
Category:Culture of the Galactic Empire
Category:Politics
Category:Systems of government