Fascism

Fascism was a political philosophy based on militant totalitarianism. 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 citizen. 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. Indeed, when making enough money to get by became difficult for average Imperial citizens, Imperial propaganda was quick to try and cover up the realities of day-to-day life, painting the image of a far more prosperous society than that which actually existed. In 9 BBY, in a recorded speech, Senator Daho Sejan blamed the economic and security issues facing the Empire on enemies from within, "terrorists," whom he claimed lived among the everyday people in secret.

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. 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. 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.

Text and facts from the “Fascism” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.