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The Star Wars Saga

The True Cost of the Rebellion

By Ricky ChopraPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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The Star Wars Saga
Photo by Daniel Cheung on Unsplash

Nine movies into the long-running Star Wars saga, the Jedis have finally defeated the Sith. But how would the galaxy so far, far away have fared after the First Order was defeated?

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have calculated the economic impact after the second Death Star was destroyed at the Battle of Endor. Assistant Professor Zachary Feinstein, PhD, estimated the two Death Stars would have cost the Galactic Empire over $612 quintillion to build.

Death Star II | Wookieepedia | Fandom

It’s likely that the Galactic Empire would have had to borrow much of the money from a network of interplanetary banks in the Federation. And it stands to reason that after the Galactic Empire was defeated at the Battle of Endor, these loans would not have been paid back. Defaulting on the loans would have caused an economic meltdown that would have sent the galaxy into a recession that lasted for over three decades.

Mon Mothma | Rogue One | DISNEY/LUCASFILM

Mon Mothma was elected as the first chancellor of the new Republic Senate after the battle of Endor. Faced with the economic fallout from the collapse of the Galactic Empire, Mothma would have been advised to prepare a stimulus programme to rescue the crumbling economy. Her plan would have included a bailout for the 17,501 banks deemed “too big to fail.” Feinstein estimated the bailout would have amounted to as much as twenty per cent of the galaxy’s $4.6 sextillion economy.

1 sextillion is 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

It’s doubtful the Rebel Alliance would have had the political know-how or financial resources to bail out all the large banks. And with little left in the coffers, Mothma would have been left with no option but to cut military funding. The impact would have been felt across the 1.75 million full member worlds in the new Republic.

There is no denying the Galactic Empire ruled with excessive force. However, they invested in massive infrastructure projects that would have required billions of tonnes of natural resources and millions of workers. One could argue that the Empire’s social works programmes ushered in a long period of economic stability.

Brett Northcutt - Rogue One

The Galactic Empire would have been the largest employer in the galaxy. After their demise, the entire labour force would have found themselves unemployed and struggling to feed their families. Also, the Empire’s collapse would have left many of the outer rim planets in the Federation without a central government or representation in the senate. The Empire will have either augmented or overthrown existing local governmental organisations, not because they wanted to seize power, but because they will need to ensure their workforce is provided with essential services like food distribution, healthcare, refuse collection, policing, fire, and rescue.

The new Republic Senate would not have had the wherewithal, infostructure, or cash flow to maintain these basic services. Therefore, the Rebellion’s coup d’état would have plunged the ordinary imperial citizen into lawless chaos, leaving citizens to defend themselves with nothing more than an old blaster.

By Daniel Cheung on Unsplash

Interplanetary trade would have gradually ground to a halt because the rusting buckets of bolts that were not destroyed in the numerous battles leading up to the Battle of Endor would be unable to make the jump into hyperspace. The factories that produced space parts would have all gone bust after the Empire’s contracts were not honoured and the Republic cut military funding.

XS Stock Light Freighter | Wookieepedia | Fandom

Gangsters, pirates, and warlords would have exploited the conditions created by the financial turmoil, lack of policing, and crippling poverty. Nefarious loan sharks would have filled the void created when the smaller banks collapsed. With little or no military presence, mobsters would have terrorised defenceless farmers, small business owners, and hauliers, resulting in galaxy-wide food shortages and mass famine.

The Republic Senate would have been forced to borrow vast amounts of money to kickstart the failing economy. However, to pay for those loans, they would have had to implement draconian austerity measures. Also, they would have no option but to raise business rates and income tax.

Do you think the same rebellious spirits that sought to overthrow the Galactic Empire ever thought their bravery would be rewarded with extortionately high tax bills? Obviously not; the ragtag space cowboys and bounty hunters would have evaded the Republic’s tax collectors and thus become outlaws once again. Faced with these insurmountable problems, the new Republic Senate Taxation Bureau would have had to resort to threats of imprisonment and deadly force to recover lost tax revenue.

SWTOR Mercenary | DISNEY/LUCASFILM

Realising that mass unrest and instability would be a threat to their wealth and power, the galaxies’ elite likely funded the construction of the First Order’s new fleet to protect their self-interests. Hence, thirty years after the Battle of Endor, the force reawakens.

DISNEY/LUCASFILM

Inspiring legends of fallen warriors convince the misguided sons and daughters of the ruling classes that it is noble and just to destroy their enemy to ensure their favoured branch of the force lives on for centuries to come.

Leveraging bipartisan politics, millions of disenfranchised citizens are encouraged to take up arms. Once re-educated and indoctrinated, these young idealistic individuals become battle-ready soldiers who think nothing of killing in the name of their elders’ myths.

Ten thousand years of the bitter rivalry come to an end when Jedi Knight Rey Skywalker kills the Sith lord Darth Sidious (AKA Sheev Palpatine) before dying herself. Ben Solo (Palpatine’s apprentice) sacrifices his life to save Skywalker, and the two hemispheres of the force are once again united. Meanwhile, Palpatine’s armada is defeated by The Resistance and militias across the galaxy rise against the First Order.

Disney Wiki | Fandom

The fall of the First Order would have plunged the fragile galactic economy into another deep recession. Instantly wiping out quintillions of debts would have initiated a long period of hyperinflation and the devaluation of Republic Credits.

Those rich enough to weather the storm will be wary of reinvesting. Those unfortunate enough to live a more hand to mouth existence would probably have starved to death during the double-dip recession.

When we consider the impact of the rebellion uprising, we must ask, “Was it worth it?” Ultimately, billions of citizens died because two quasi-religious cults could not agree on how best to use their magical powers. In retrospect, the galaxy would have been better off without the Jedi and Sith. Maybe there are lessons we can learn here.

Star Wars is just a film, but I think it can help us objectively understand why people commit acts of terror. Throughout the saga, kids from dysfunctional families become radicalised by religious leaders who persuade their apprentices to lay down their lives for their beliefs.

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About the Creator

Ricky Chopra

Science fiction author. My new book is called "Call Me Izanagi". Musician and producer (Search for Ricky Chopra, Spectrum City and DJ Chops in Spotify) Plus DJ and designer of http://www.spectrumcity.co.uk

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