LogFAQs > #974423968

The Empire is largely inspired by colonial Britain, Nazi Germany and cold war America along with a smattering of other influences (Shogunate Japan, Imperial Rome, Bush Jr).

The prevailing aesthetic of the Empire in the films is the dominance of military culture. It's a state ruled by the military and whose only representatives on screen are members of the military, who are devoid of humanity or mercy. The creation of the Empire is tied to the creation of a standing army, in a war between two forces largely lacking humanity in a morally ambiguous war (at least in the films).

Lucas's politics in Star Wars can largely be characterized as "pro war, anti military". The Empire does not use its military to enforce its evil agenda. The Empire is evil because its military exists at all. The Empire is a critique of military propaganda and hero worship. You can't ask "what if the Empire used it's power for good" because it is so evil on its face and its power is tied to that.

Star Wars argues that nations like this can only be evil. The only good militaries are the purely defensive versions created by necessity.