Galactic Empire (Star Wars)

The Empire and xenophobic racism

In the first three released Star Wars movies, almost all members of the Empire are portrayed as white British males speaking with a Received Pronunciation accent. This was done for both logistical reasons (much of the filming was done in Britain), and for dramatic reasons (as attested to by director Irvin Kershner, who even overdubbed a rebel who was played by a British actor to fit with this scheme). The exceptions are the stormtroopers who all have much the same intonation (non-British), and some Imperial officers in A New Hope that were played by Americans. In contrast most, though not all, of the main protagonists of the Rebel Alliance have American accents. The Rebel Alliance as shown in the movies seems to be comprised of a variety of human races and alien species. The reason for this is never revealed in the movies, but it led many fans and authors writing derivative works to theorize that the Empire was xenophobic. However it should be noted that not one single non-human member of the Rebel Alliance (with exception of Chewbacca) was ever shown on screen until ROTJ. Theories suggest that perhaps the human species is the most numberous species in the galaxy and would account for so many being shown within the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. Or perhaps only humans care enough about administration of the galaxy to risk their lives in military organizations contesting the privelige. When shown on screen to American audiences, this polarity of accents and ideals between a mighty empire and a determined group of rebels reflects past American history, specifically the Revolutionary War.

Related Topics:
Received Pronunciation - A New Hope - Revolutionary War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the Expanded Universe, the Empire emphasized human and, to a lesser extent, humanoid supremacy, with other alien species like Wookiees subject to slavery. Antislavery laws were repealed and legislation legalizing the persecution of nonhumans was passed. Peaceful demonstrations were dispersed using brute force, often killing and maiming thousands, as during the Ghorman Massacre. The planets of the Empire were no longer given a say in the government, but were now kept in line by the thousands of sector groups of the Imperial Starfleet, each containing at least twenty-four Imperator-class Star Destroyers and several thousand lesser ships. Disillusioned senators who had tried unsuccessfully to use legal means, and the time-honored system of checks and balances, now sought to end Palpatine’s rule through rebellion. Several corrupt senators also allied themselves with the rebels in order to maintain a secure money flow for their own profit while secretly supporting the Rebellion.

Related Topics:
Expanded Universe - Humanoid - Wookiee - Slavery - Imperial Starfleet - Star Destroyer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This explains why almost everyone on the side of the Empire in Episodes IV, V, and VI is human. It is believed by some that Palpatine's association with non-humans like Darth Maul in is within the spectrum of humanoid. It so follows that while the Empire was unquestionably specist, there is little to suggest that the Emperor himself was. In fact, some facts of the Expanded Universe imply that the privy councilors and advisors that filled Palpatine's court and ran the Empire on a day-to-day basis were the specists, and applied "High Human Culture" on their own accord.

Related Topics:
Darth Maul - Expanded Universe

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~