Politics in the Galactic Republic

[MattRhodes]

Looking to start a discussion about what Political Parties, lobbies, special interest groups, and factions might take shape in a galaxy-spanning government. Besides the war with the Sith Empire (later dealing with living under the boot of the Eternal Empire), I could see a split similar to that present in Star Wars: Bloodline, with one faction in favor of centralization and one more in favor of devolution of responsibility to sector and system-level governments.

 

Also, how involved do y'all think the Jedi might be in the politics of the Republic? As its sworn defenders and peacekeepers, how might they view such issues and in turn, how might the Senate view them? Particularly with the whole raising-children-from-infancy thing.

 

Also, I was impressed by the character transition(development?) of Leontyne Saresh, from backwater reconstruction governor of a doomed planet to war-mongering ex-chancellor-puppetmaster pulling the strings of the Republic from the shadows. I was a fan at first, over time, not so much.

Edited April 25, 2017 by MattRhodes

[SteveTheCynic]

Also, I was impressed by the character transition(development?) of Leontyne Saresh, from backwater reconstruction governor of a doomed planet to war-mongering ex-chancellor-puppetmaster pulling the strings of the Republic from the shadows. I was a fan at first, over time, not so much.

The seeds were visible right from the very start, when you first meet her. Consider what she says to the work crew foreman - she tells him that if he and his crew don't want to work on the project, and want to leave Taris, she'll have them all shoved in quarantine without pay for six months, and then tells him to come back when he's ready to make the right decision.

 

She was *never* a good person.

[Master_Dexter]

Regarding Politics in the Old Republic i recommend the "Essential Atlas". There it states that before the Ruusan Reformation, there where two "houses", one seated senate and one unseated. The second one had very little voting power and was mostly consistend of sectors outside the coreworlds and the needet to trade away the little power they had to put the topics on the agenda that they wanted to. This bred corruption and inefficiency.

 

Most Senators were representatives of whole sectors rather than specific planets (powerful core worlds were the exception).

 

Additionally there were no specific partys but rather certain caucuses, who dominated the debates in the senate.

 

The Jedi were not that close to the Senate as they were during the clone wars. Especially after the Treaty of Coruscant, where the Senate cut funding for rebuilding the temple and their move to Tython. So they were used and some served at the behest of the chancellor or the military, but the two where not as insperable as in later centuries.

[Celise]

Looking to start a discussion about what Political Parties, lobbies, special interest groups, and factions might take shape in a galaxy-spanning government. Besides the war with the Sith Empire (later dealing with living under the boot of the Eternal Empire), I could see a split similar to that present in Star Wars: Bloodline, with one faction in favor of centralization and one more in favor of devolution of responsibility to sector and system-level governments.

 

Also, how involved do y'all think the Jedi might be in the politics of the Republic? As its sworn defenders and peacekeepers, how might they view such issues and in turn, how might the Senate view them? Particularly with the whole raising-children-from-infancy thing.

 

Also, I was impressed by the character transition(development?) of Leontyne Saresh, from backwater reconstruction governor of a doomed planet to war-mongering ex-chancellor-puppetmaster pulling the strings of the Republic from the shadows. I was a fan at first, over time, not so much.

 

The thing with politics is that it's far more dangerous than a mass murdering sith could ever accomplish, and politicians always have their own goals and agendas and they always look out for themselves.

 

Jedi are not allowed to get involved in political affairs unless they have little choice but to get involved. for the most part the reason why the Jedi remove themselves from the senate and other places is because the desire to do anything in the senate will ultimately cause problems from one place to the next and getting involved will make the Jedi look like they want power for themselves. something greatly misunderstood by everyone outside Jedi is that the Jedi seek power, but that is not what they are about.

 

However Jedi have their own politics to deal with;

- it's what created the divide between light and dark and created the Sith as a seperate force wielding order who in revenge attack the Jedi at every chance, hence the dark side.

- it's what started that whole Revan and Malak mess which reduced Taris to a smoking cinder and Rakata prime covered in space station fragments.

- the split was a direct consequence of the cold war during SWTOR when the Sith came screaming out of their corner of the galaxy and almost took half the galaxy in the process.

 

As for Saresh, a power hungry politician once given a bottle that never runs dry is a disaster in the making, Saresh drunk from that bottle of power far too much and as a result she got poisoned by the power. Ultimately the one who killed Saresh and her own goals? all of it is on Saresh herself.

Edited April 26, 2017 by Celise

[AndorianTJ]

The funny thing is, Saresh behaves just like any power seeking Sith would. Scheming and backstabbing her way to power is Sith standard operating procedure. I am surprised she didn't earn more respect from the Empire for her role in destabilizing the Republic, and for acting like they would in the same situation. Power hungry egomaniacs who can't to let go of grudges...sounds familiar. How many insecure egomaniac Darth's do you have to deal with through out all the storylines? Too many to count.

 

Democracies are far from perfect, even the ones we live in. It shouldn't surprise anyone that during times of uncertainty and instability, power hungry egomaniacs can and do take advantage of the situation for their rise to power...sometimes through the very instability that they in fact instigated...ie Palpatine. The whole political point of the Prequels was to demonstrate the process in which a Democracy becomes a Tyranny under the guise of 'security'.

 

It's a total Mafia move...You secretly pay thugs to rough up a neighborhood, then you 'offer' the people of that neighborhood security, the people buy it, you 'clean up' the same thugs you secretly paid, then you own the place.

 

Maybe that's the appeal of the Empire. You already know what to expect. You already know you have to deal with Darth McLargeHuge, so you are prepared for it. In the Republic, Senator McLargeHuge can play behind the scenes for awhile and then blindside you.

[Celise]

The funny thing is, Saresh behaves just like any power seeking Sith would. Scheming and backstabbing her way to power is Sith standard operating procedure. I am surprised she didn't earn more respect from the Empire for her role in destabilizing the Republic, and for acting like they would in the same situation. Power hungry egomaniacs who can't to let go of grudges...sounds familiar. How many insecure egomaniac Darth's do you have to deal with through out all the storylines? Too many to count.

 

Sith will eventually use the power they have in order to benefit the empire. Saresh is like Malgus, both got drunk on power and both wanted to build their own hermit kingdoms with that power, the thing is that they become the enemy they have been fighting this whole time and no one wants them.

 

Sith only respect a person with power so long as it's used correctly.

[Aeneas_Falco]

Diplomacy is in the Jedi order's wheelhouse (see the Consular class story) and Jedi are often called upon to mediate political disputes, because of their reputation for being just and impartial.

 

My guess would be that the Jedi generally prefer to stay out of politics, and don't endorse candidates or political parties, but will mediate disputes between planets when invited by their governors/Senators.

Edited April 27, 2017 by Aeneas_Falco

[Celise]

Diplomacy is in the Jedi order's wheelhouse (see the Consular class story) and Jedi are often called upon to mediate political disputes, because of their reputation for being just and impartial.

 

My guess would be that the Jedi generally prefer to stay out of politics, and don't endorse candidates or political parties, but will mediate disputes between planets when invited by their governors/Senators.

 

their progress doesn't mean much if a senator or governor ignored the jedi and went out and commited horrible acts. Jedi can only be of council if they are allowed to but they also have to report to the council on the matter. thing is that the jedi is effectively powerless unless they are directed to get involved but in such a way that limits their exposure while causing the biggest impact.

[DjMeta]

Jedi are not allowed to get involved in political affairs unless they have little choice but to get involved.

 

So the Consular story is what, a dream?

 

While Jedi don't actually hold any seats in the Senate, they are a large part of the political machine that is the Republic. Both Jedi classes have at least 3 or 4 quests from Senators, Governors, and other officials on each planet, and that's excluding the entire second chapter for the Consular. You're asked by enough people to assume it's not just because you're a PC, it's because people see it as your job (which it kinda is).

 

As for the comment about politicians being worse than Sith, please actually play any Imperial storyline. While it's true that the Republic is covertly corrupt, they aren't always doing it for the wrong reasons (See Senator Kayl). The Sith are openly corrupt, have no form of representation from their planets, and blatantly murder people that disagree with them, and often purely for entertainment. Marr and Lana are some of the most level-headed Sith in any story, and they still kill mercilessly for the smallest of issues (Marr threatens his troops with death for speaking out of turn, even when they're right).

[SithKoriandr]

So the Consular story is what, a dream?

 

While Jedi don't actually hold any seats in the Senate, they are a large part of the political machine that is the Republic. Both Jedi classes have at least 3 or 4 quests from Senators, Governors, and other officials on each planet, and that's excluding the entire second chapter for the Consular. You're asked by enough people to assume it's not just because you're a PC, it's because people see it as your job (which it kinda is).

 

As for the comment about politicians being worse than Sith, please actually play any Imperial storyline. While it's true that the Republic is covertly corrupt, they aren't always doing it for the wrong reasons (See Senator Kayl). The Sith are openly corrupt, have no form of representation from their planets, and blatantly murder people that disagree with them, and often purely for entertainment. Marr and Lana are some of the most level-headed Sith in any story, and they still kill mercilessly for the smallest of issues (Marr threatens his troops with death for speaking out of turn, even when they're right).

 

Exactly. How is it people always seem to over look this?

 

Republic has some corrupt, looking out for themselves politicians, but the Sith Empire is all that when it comes to Sith. Even the Sith who are more pro Empire and less personal glory, still kill easily. LS PCs seem to be the real exception and even then sometimes they don't give you that exception.

[AshlaBoga]

Marr and Lana are some of the most level-headed Sith in any story, and they still kill mercilessly for the smallest of issues (Marr threatens his troops with death for speaking out of turn, even when they're right).

 

I found Marr's "Speak when spoken to or I'll cut your tongue out" in Chapter 1 - The Hunt to be memorable.

But I figured it was because he was getting excess com chatter in combat and I always hate small talk during boss fights myself (no discussing your favourite beer during NiM timed runs people!).

[AndorianTJ]

All of the Empire story lines involve frequent corruption.

 

The BH, you actively help a corrupt military officer gain favor by sabotaging his rival. Then you doom a whole race (Selonians) to slavery. You also shoot up a medical ward.

 

The IA who is arguably the biggest 'Empire Patriot' of the bunch, of who expresses the most interest in serving the Empire and it's people. The LS IA lets you know he/she dislikes the Sith meddling in their missions, and dislikes the Sith using the Imperial Intel service for their personal gain. This sentiment mirror's Elara Dorne's comment to the Trooper as to why she left the Empire...paraphrasing "The Empire used to stand for order and discipline, but that all went out the window when a Sith walked in the room"

 

The SI and SW both either help or stop Sith rivals from sabotaging the Empire's war effort for personal gain. How can you possibly win a war if you spend over half the time engaging in inter faction rivalries.

 

Of all the Empire Story arc's the BH is really the only one who actually fights for the Empire with any sort of success, and even the LS BH ends up bringing down the Sith controlling him/her.

 

 

Interestingly this is not too different than the Klingon Empire in Star Trek. The Klingons claim to live by a code of honor, and preach honor all the time, yet only a handful shown in the whole Star Trek series actually appear to live by that said code of honor. (Worf, Kurn, Martok, Grilka and maybe Chancellor Gorkon) While the rest of the Klingons use the 'Honor' code as a shield to do dis-honorable acts or protect dis-honorable Klingons in the name of protecting the Empire.

 

The Sith Empire is evil, plain and simple, there is no way around it for obvious historical parallels, and simply because Lucas wrote it that way. He made things very 'Black - White' for the sake of his style of storytelling. The Sith are clearly the Reich, mixed in with some Holy Roman Empire...complete with Inquisitors....cause nobody EXPECTS the Spanish Inquisition!

 

Perhaps the political landscape of Star Wars might be more intriguing and 'GREY' if the Empire was more like the British Empire...ie more 'Benevolent' (PLEASE take that with a grain of salt....cause it depends who you ask) and the Republic more like a corrupt Rome. That way both sides would be equally a mixed bag. Perhaps with the Empire headed toward peaceful democracy and the Republic headed toward tyranny.

Edited April 28, 2017 by AndorianTJ