star wars - In Episode VI, what did the good guys really accomplish since the bad guys are back stronger in Episode VII?

At the end of Return of the Jedi, the Death Star and the Sith boss(es) are killed and everyone is happy.

But thirty years later in The Force Awakens it seems like the new bad guys are bigger and stronger than ever. What did the Jedi and the light side of the Force really accomplish?

Answer

The Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star II and the Sith were defeated, leading to the eventual defeat of the Empire. The Empire was forced to sign the Galactic Concordance, which limited the territory of the Empire and brought peace to the galaxy. The Empire was replaced with the New Republic which was more free like the Old Republic. Ultimately, this gave the galaxy about 30 years of peace and freedom from an evil tyrant with the power to destroy whole planets with the Death Star II.

Unfortunately, history repeats itself. The pacifists in the New Republic rested on their laurels and disarmed themselves, similar to how the pacifists in the Old Republic opposed the Military Creation Act right up until the minute the Republic discovered that the Separatists were massing a huge droid army which they could use to attack the Republic. In some cases, the same pacifists were responsible for disarming the "good guys" before both wars (e.g. Mon Mothma). Disarming the New Republic allowed the hardliner remnant of the Empire (which formed the First Order) to re-arm and strengthen themselves again. Only a small group from the New Republic remained armed and prepared to fight the First Order: the Resistance.

Had the New Republic not disarmed itself, the galaxy might have enjoyed peace and freedom for more than just 30 years. Si vis pacem, para bellum.

As for the light vs. dark side of the Force, even Yoda admits in Episode V that the future is constantly changing:

Always in motion is the future.

The light and dark sides of the Force are constantly fighting for control. The light side was in control during the Old Republic, then the dark side gained control during the Empire. The light side regained control at the end of Episode VI, and now the light and the dark are fighting for control again.

Comments

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