Political depictions in Star Wars vs. reality

[PoetPhilosopher]

If you take all the magical Jedi/Sith powers out of Star Wars, do the prequels and the Emperor still provide good insight into what happens when real life politics goes wrong? Such as a politician playing both sides, corruption and support of it, and in regards to The Phantom Menace, a politician who was in desperate need of power influencing a ""Queen"", mostly against her will, to get it?

 

[ADigitalArtist]

"This is how democracy dies, with thunderous applause" is still one of the best quotes from the prequels imo. Speaks to how people who were disenfranchised with the status quo were manipulated by a charismatic dictator into freely giving up their rights.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

"This is how democracy dies, with thunderous applause" is still one of the best quotes from the prequels imo.

I agree. A moving statement.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I agree. A moving statement.

I edited to add some more thoughts on why I think it's such a historical statement. Pertinent today, too.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Originally, I had some issues with the sequels, especially the whole idea of the First Order: the Empire comes back pretty much the way it was before? Really? This seems like pandering.

... but then I as I saw all the Confederate flags at Trump rallies and January 6 putsch participants wearing shirts with things like "6MWA" on them, I stopped and thought "ah... I see your point."

 

[Stevicus]

If you take all the magical Jedi/Sith powers out of Star Wars, do the prequels and the Emperor still provide good insight into what happens when real life politics goes wrong? Such as a politician playing both sides, corruption and support of it, and in regards to The Phantom Menace, a politician who was in desperate need of power influencing a ""Queen"", mostly against her will, to get it?

I don't think Star Wars gives us any better insight into politics than their insight into good and evil. It's fun, comic book entertainment, with good special effects.

Queen Amidala was "elected" Queen at the age of 14? Was there no one else running for election? What kind of political system do they even have? With groups like that Trade Federation and the Techno Union Army running, along with Jar Jar Binks speaking in the Senate, and Jabba the Hutt on the periphery, it actually seems a miracle that their government survived for as long as it did.

 

[Twilight Hue]

If you take all the magical Jedi/Sith powers out of Star Wars, do the prequels and the Emperor still provide good insight into what happens when real life politics goes wrong? Such as a politician playing both sides, corruption and support of it, and in regards to The Phantom Menace, a politician who was in desperate need of power influencing a ""Queen"", mostly against her will, to get it?

If anything, it's the dysfunctional council that seems to get real life impasses spot on.

Hence perpetually stuck in useless committee.