Fascism

"I—and all the people of my world, the world you're threatening into submission—would rather die free than live under your fascist rule."
" […] Was it worth it?"
"If only one other planet hears of what we've done, and decides to follow our lead…then yeah. It'll all be worth it."

―A young rebel rebukes Kylo Ren^[1]

ImperiusUnitadaoberTotallex — Janyor of Bith resented a fascist image that featured the Imperial crest in red, white, and black.

Fascism was a political philosophy based on militant totalitarianism.^[2] The Galactic Empire and its successor state, the First Order,^[3] were both considered fascist governments.^[1]^[4]

The Bith artist Janyor referred to the Galactic Empire as fascist, expressing his disgust with the propaganda piece Imperius Unitada ober Totallex's use of fascist imagery.^[2] Similarly, during the Battle of Hoth, Rebel^[4] Communications Officer^[5] 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.^[4]

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.^[6] 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.^[1]

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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,^[7] which first appeared in George Lucas' 1977 film, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.^[8] The Galactic Empire was first referred to as being fascist in 2008 through the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game.^[9]

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."^[10]

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."^[11] The original trilogy concept artist Ralph McQuarrie drew on Nazi imagery in designing Imperial stormtroopers.^[12] 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.^[11]