If Palpatine died and Vader survived, what would happen? We can answer this intriguing question in two main ways. One possibility is that Vader rules effectively. The other is that the Empire falls apart. Both results have their merits, but the latter one holds more weight.
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Vader Becomes Emperor and Rules the Galaxy
In the scenario where Palpatine dies and Vader survives, we could argue that Vader would successfully become Emperor. A main reason, as indicated in this Reddit discussion, is that he was “already the supreme commander of the military,” which would provide a base for his power. High-ranking officers might challenge him, but “he would crush anyone who resists his rise to power.”
A combination of position and Force power would thus ensure his claim to being Emperor. This would make sense since Vader had been plotting to overthrow Palpatine ever since his turn to the dark side.
In this pivotal Empire Strikes Back scene, Vader indicates his desire to rule with Luke by his side. In this other monumental scene with Padme, Anakin claims that he is “more powerful than the Chancellor” and that he “can overthrow him.” Just this sampling reminds us that Anakin-Vader had intended to displace Sidious and become Emperor himself.
With Vader as Emperor, he could potentially rule with an iron fist that was better than Palpatine’s. We may agree that Vader was “more of a pragmatic character than Sidious,” and that he would steer the Empire away from “cronyism and political corruption.” Vader is known for Force-choking officers for their incompetence.
We could envision Vader presiding over meetings like this famous one and Force-choking out officers who were in command for political reasons. He could replace them with those who showed merit and ambition, perhaps someone like Deedra Meero, who demonstrated skill and commitment to the Empire.
Vader could rule the galaxy in a firm but competent way and make the Empire a more imposing presence than it was under Palpatine.
Vader Becomes Emperor, But the Empire Falls Apart
The opening Reddit board also suggests an alternative pathway–Vader becomes Emperor, but the Empire falls apart. The main reason is that Vader is “nothing close to the political mind of Sidious.”
Many fans here also agree with that premise, stating how Vader “isn’t a master politician and manipulator like palpatine.” This conclusion holds more weight because it was Palpatine’s planning, fear, and master manipulation that controlled the galaxy.
We should remember that Palpatine not only steered the course of the Clone Wars and the destruction of the Jedi. He also transformed the Republic into “an authoritarian state” with him presiding with complete control as the Galactic Emperor.
Early on in A New Hope, Sidious had manipulated the political situation so well that he dissolved the Imperial Senate. As Tarkin confirmed, it would “no longer be of any concern” to how Palpatine ruled the galaxy. Palpatine was the mastermind behind complete political domination.
This article recaps some of the extensive “methods of control and oppression” that he orchestrated. Through Palpatine, the Empire rapidly instilled chain codes for travel, stormtroopers to replace clones, and “massive propaganda campaigns” to instill his rule.
In real life, these aspects resemble Stalinism, or the complete control of Joseph Stalin. In the galaxy, we had other elements like the ISB to ward off security threats that also parallel Stalin’s secret police, as well as torture and imprisonment. Let’s not forget about the Imperial Military too, which had originally been put in place by Palpatine.
Vader shared the elements of fear and intimidation, but not the ability to orchestrate this extensive type of galactic political control. We don’t even need to review Palpatine’s Force power to press home the point.
If Vader Were Emperor
While there is a case to be made that Vader could successfully rule the galaxy as Emperor, the weight of evidence steers us otherwise. More likely, the galaxy would fall apart under his rule. Vader just didn’t possess the totalitarian might of Palpatine. There was only one Emperor in Star Wars.