Power in Conflict: Empire vs. Rebellion
“Power, unlimited power” vs. “We had each other, and that was enough”
In the first chapter of Star Wars and Conflict Resolution: There Are Alternatives to Fighting, HArvard Law School’s Rachel Viscomi takes on the critical question of power in conflict. It seems as if power is easily determined, and we’d bet on Darth Vader going up against Salacious Crumb. And yet, we know that such calculations can be misleading. Ewoks took down Imperial Walkers, right? And so, Viscomi suggests, determining who has power in a conflict often is more a matter of perspective than objective fact. And, in conflict situations, it’s not just about having power, it’s about whether and how you use it that impact your outcome. If we believe we have power, we are more likely to insist on an outcome that is desirable to us. On the other hand, “If we believe we are powerless, we may just stand there while the trash compactor closes in on us.”
Power can be thought of two different ways: 1) the classic power-as-force also known as “power over” or dominance power, and 2) “power with” also known as partnership power or collaborative power.
The first power conception, “power over,” is everywhere in the Star Wars universe. “Power over” can be thought of as the ability to compel others to do your bidding against their will. Often associated with the Sith, power-over is fundamentally instrumentalist: it sees people as tools to be used to a larger end.” The power over relationship is inherently unstable because, from this perspective, relationships are seen as threats. Examples of this instability include Kylo Ren betraying Snoke, Darth Sidious sending Darth Vader to kill his former Separatist allies, and Darth Vader’s treatment of Admiral Ozzel and Commander Needa in A New Hope. “Dominance power destroys rather than builds relationship power, leaving relationships weak and vulnerable to a show of genuine concern for someone else.”
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POV someone who has been over-powered by the power-over GOAT
The second power conception, “power with,” is collective power. Often associated with the Jedi, “power with” uses collaboration with others to meet collective needs. Padme’s plea to the Gungans to fight alongside the Naboo against the invading droid army is an example of collaboration being used to meet a collective goal. Another example is the ragtag group of starships that bring down the Final Order fleet on Exegol. While the power-over approach often trusts too little, the power-with approach sometimes trusts too much. Power-with relies heavily on the actions of others to reach a shared goal, and this reliance can be exploited.
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Stronger Together
Both approaches to power have a means and an ends relationship that can be useful. If the goal is to oppress and maintain obedience, the power-over approach is the means to achieve that end. In contrast, if the goal is to foster collaboration, independence, and well being, the power-with approach is a more appropriate means. Viscomi’s chapter, like other chapters in Star Wars and Conflict Resolution, connects between approaches to power and issues of trust and relationship; which approach to use is therefore often a function of what kinds of relational risks a person is willing to take.
— Written by Max Lentz, SW&CR Padawan and 3L student at the University of Oregon School of Law
