The Clone Wars is one of the most epic Grand Army of the Republic cannot march on an empty stomach and nor are the Separatist battle droids made of thin air. Why then, is the economics of the Clone Wars as mysterious as the ways of the Force?
The economic side of the conflict is vaguely mentioned in the prequels, where scarce references to financial entanglements interchange with lightsaber fights and space battles. Some of the principal players in the Clone Wars are great economic powerhouses such as the Trade Federation, or the InterGalactic Banking Clan. The Trade Federation’s blockade of Naboo that kicks off the story is a result of the trade dispute. Cloning technology that provides a much-needed army for the Republic is both complex and costly. And after the war breaks out, someone has to supply weapons and the credits to both sides for three years of its duration.
Yet, this important aspect of the story is almost entirely overlooked in the films. Why? The answer could be the Star WARS itself. Taxation, embargoes, or logistics are hardly the most important topics in a space fantasy focused on action and adventure. Additionally, there is a matter of a relatively cold reception of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones elevated politics over human drama, to the disappointment of many fans.
From a certain point of view, Star Wars was always a series of fables: a modern myth filled with different allegories and allusions. It does not come as a surprise that George Lucas continued this trend with the prequels, inserting the messages he deemed relevant for the time. The Republic falls from within, because of widespread corruption, predatory lending, war-profiteering, and similar actions capitalized upon by ambitious or greedy leaders to gain political and economic power. The Clone Wars is just a sideshow, which not only undermines the Republic but also draws everyone’s attention away from Darth Sidious' machinations. Although undoubtedly important for the story, economic elements are poorly presented in the films. The result is a convoluted and unclear message that led to disappointment.
Thus, it comes as a surprise that Count Dooku. When the time arrived for Sidious to take the power, the organization and its leaders were sacrificed, the assets seized by the Republic, with Palpatine taking personal control over the banks. All of Lucas’s messages are present in the series, only here they are better presented, enriching the story. However, even here the economic element is not exploited well, and due to the nature of the animated series, its presentation is still simplified.
Star Wars is not a story about economics, but it would be wrong to disregard it given its importance. The financial struggle behind the war is a good example of an overlooked element in the franchise that plays an integral part in its worldbuilding. The Clone Wars were primarily a military conflict, but under the surface, influential commercial organizations vied for power, unknowingly ing sinister individuals, who eventually brought forth the new order. The Clone Wars are over, but the Star Wars Galaxy is always on the verge of conflict, and the story could profit from exploring the economics in the right way.
