The Doomed Politics of the CIS

Even as a child, watching the peace arc made me realize that the CIS was just a union of useful idiots for Dooku and Palpatine

The CIS is actually one of the more realistic factions in Star Wars. The idea of a loosely connected alliance built on empty populism and anti tax/regulation sentiment that's controlled entirely by the exact ruling class it claims to be fighting against has become a very familiar one these last twenty years.

Can you imagine being one of the other Chomell worlds and hearing a junior senator spot opened up, only for it to be given to Jar-Jar?

My favorite thing about CIS politics is people being made about corporations influencing the republic, so they formed the CIS, bankrolled by mega corps

People said the prequel trilogy had to much politics... By estimation... it didn't have enough. Fascinating stuff.

Somehow, the situation was even more complex than Corey outlines in this video. Many CIS worlds for example, were deeply divided on the topic of the corporate powers making up the military arm of the CIS. On the one hand, of course, these powers represented much of the corruption of the Republic in some form or another, from their overbearing and often unjust policies to their gargantuan bureaucratic establishment. But on the other hand, these companies were also the ones directly responsible for much of the infrastructure, trade, and employment of peoples throughout the outer rim, and represented many planet's and systems interests even more thoroughly than their sector representatives in the senate. So naturally they ended up with both a lot of praise, and a lot of blame, depending on the situation. The height of this dichotomy was probably the crisis on Naboo. Naboo itself owed much of it's prosperity to the plasma mining complex the Trade Federation had financed and operated, but once the Senate attempted to rescind the Free Trade Zone agreements the operation and full profits of these installations would become the purview of the Naboo, who were strongly in support of more direct Republic regulation. The Trade Federation, of course, hated this, so they rescinded their own trade services to the planet and even formed a blockade, and since all Naboo trade had been handled by them until then, this plunged the planet deep into financial depression, to say nothing of the fact that they were highly reliant on food imports despite the environment. Neighbors in Naboo's sector and the Outer Rim as a whole were torn on this, since there was resentment against both the TF for their wanton blockade, and Naboo for being a rich and powerful world soon to gain an even more advantaged position. However when the TF invasion happened and news spread, public sentiment swung much more towards the Naboo and against the TF - But also against the Republic and Valorum, who had badly bungled the whole situation, especially since Valorum had pretty much illegally sent two Jedi there under pretenses of a personal favor, which was supposed to be something subject to a senate vote. Now at this point Padme is fed up with all the stalling and bureaucracy, so she takes matters into her own hands and decides to return to the planet to free it herself. This is a big move, since it essentially is saying the Republic can't do anything, and that the planet has to look out for it's own safety. And she actually does it. This becomes a huge rallying cry for the burgeoning successionist movement, since it was a prime example of a planet taking care of it's own problems much better than the Republic. Throughout all this the blame was actually shifted much more to the Republic than the TF, so ultimately you end up with the peak irony of the CIS member worlds allying with the very corporation that lost the invasion they were emboldened by, fighting against the planet they supported the actions of, because their grievances with the larger political body was considered more important. Politics - And weird Sith power jockeying - Makes for strange bedfellows, all around.

Ι remember that scene in the CIS Council when a senator deadass said out loud "We are not corrupt like the Republic! Corporations do not control us" and I was like: My brother in the Force, Corporations provide you with 90% of your army, their CEO's are literally the highest authority and you let a bunch of people who want to restart and expand a slave Empire join your ranks, do you honestly believe that you and you budies are the ones calling the shots here?"

Fantastic multi-media sourcing and real-world analogies alongside thoughtful, deep SW lore analysis. You do such high quality work Corey, really really appreciate it. The imagery, visualized quotes, and transitions are all spot-on too, MarMar's a great editor. Featured some art I'd never seen, which is always a treat! The density of info and interconnections make these videos very rewatchable too, queuing up the Senate one for later.

Corey is an A tier SW lore YouTuber in a sea of mediocre C tiers.

I would love a video on the mega-conglomerates of the galaxy. Especially concerning how the Sith Order essentially hijacked the Secessionist Movement within the Galactic Senate to implement the manipulated whims of the mega-corporations into what was the fledgling CIS, whom formed leading up to the Battle of Geonosis. The actual constituents of the CIS were likely none-the-wiser to the brutality of their offensives, nor just how heavy the stakes, many mega-corporations had essentially invested into the CIS. The actual legislature did grant corporate senators representation - so these individuals were aware of dealing with these entities. However, they surely must have simultaneously believed that they retained autonomy, since dealing with the industrial/manufacturing and weaponsmith juggernauts of the galaxy would be perceived as a necessary woe. They couldn't have known their plight had died the moment Dooku had interjected himself into their movement, now a cornerstone of Separatist authority. It was too late. The meeting on Geonosis was, in essence, a business deal. The outlined contracts between entities such as Trade Federation, Corporate Alliance, Commerce Guilds, Techno Union, the Banking Clan and Dooku himself (whom had by now ascended to firmly representing the CIS as their head of state). The exchange for providing resources, aside from payment of course, was a seat on an executive Separatist Council with administration over the Separatist Military. Grievous' EU background does fit well into this dynamic Lucas revealed via TCW. Lucas perceived the conflict as two belligerents, with war profiteering right along the middle. The Sith had control over both belligerents and them being puppeteers of these factions would serve their purpose.

Imagine the Luhara Sector just silently seceded from the Galactic Senate, and after a few years, ppl finally catch on, with one Senator going “Wait, we had a Luhara Sector??” xD

I read the title first and was like oop yes go off queen and now that I know its about the CIS its still intriguing because the CIS needed more than just a couple episode arcs. anyway, you still deserve the oop yes go off queen

I like the way you present this type of content. It's really great for someone like me who currently doesn't have the time to dive into cannon and legends and understand it all. Also I friggen love Thrawn's Revenge mod for EAW! Thanks for being awesome Corey!

Since Lucas was an anthropologist, he likely studied the Wallerstein model and applied it to his universe. Most linguistic studies dealing with social relations are usually familiar with this model and it wouldn't surprise me if George used that as direct inspiration

Oh this is a beautiful video. Explains a lot of points I've gotten into arguments over, especially regarding TCW's depiction of the CIS and its government structure. The point about the megacorps still having Senate representation and claiming to be separate from their CIS counterparts is also not only extremely realistic but is yet another layer of manipulation and internal sabotage and chaos that not only extends the War as long as Palpatine needs, but justifies his later consolidation of power that will ultimate lead to his declaration of the New Order being met with cheers in a war-weary Senate.

Giving corporations governmental power and armies will always be a bad idea

I love those deeper political analises. Star wars made me really enjoy geopolitics as a study subject.

My view of the Republic is that it wasn't actually a Nation State in the traditional sense but more of a Supranational Union like the European Union or the United Nations. I believe this is backed up by dialogue in the Clone Wars and the Prequels, were we have several instances where planets are described as "sovereign". Our first example is in Episode 1, where Valorum recognizes Palpatine as the "representative of the sovereign system of Naboo". Then in Trespass Chairman Cho describes Orto Plutonia as "Sovereign Pantoran Territory" and Obi Wan says that the Jedi have no jurisdiction.

Dooku really had no clear successor as Head of State.

During the '95 Referendum, there was also a question over what currency Quebec would use if it were to separate. Many Sovereigntists apparently wanted to continue to use the Canadian dollar. There was also an idea that if Quebec were to vote to separate, there would need a second, follow-up referendum that would pose a vote on a new deal with Canadian federalism vs straight-up Independence.