Recently, I have gotten into multiple arguments with my friends over the true nature of the "evil" empire depicted in Star Wars (yeah we're pretty cool). I am of the opinion that you really can't prove that the Empire is necessarily evil, for a variety of reasons.
Disclaimer: I don't actually believe most of this, and am fully aware that Lucas intended the Empire to be percieved as evil. This thread is purely for entertainment value. I am not being completely serious here, I just think this might be an interesting discussion.
1. Evil is relative. In order for the Empire to be viewed as evil, it would have to be worse than it's predecessor, the Republic. The Republic was not only corrput, but completely ineffective. It was basically the League of Nations in the sense that it was full of disputes and had little power.
The Jedi were the main method by which the senate could enforce their laws. But in order to be a jedi, you have to be able to use the Force. The Force, as revealed in Episode 1, is only available to those who have a high enough concentration of midi-chlorians. This condition appears to be hereditary. While the jedi don't marry, they do seem to get around.
Thus, the Jedi are essentially nobility. The Jedi are allowed to do whatever they want, up to and including mind control. Basically, if you are lucky enough to be the illegitmate child of a jedi, you are given a license to kill. That is how the republic worked.
The Empire, on the other hand, is a meritocracy. People from all planets are drafted (or choose to join), and then are promoted based on skill. Birth and race are not a factor. This lets people such as Han Solo get promoted to captain. Most of the infantry appear to be clones, though this is speculation.
The empire ruled through threat of violence, instead of actual violence. The Death Star was never actually intended to be used, it was just meant to scare everyone into peaceful submission.
Additionally, the Empire gives direct rule of planets over to governors. Each planet is allowed to do its own thing as long as they keep the peace. This is in sharp contrast to the micromanaging republican senate, where nothing ever seemed to get done.
Rule through the "Force" was on the way out. People such as Tarkin actually had more power than Darth Vader, and the emporer was probably about to die.
Evidenced by:
Tarkin: The regional governors now have direct control over territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station.
2. But they blew up a planet! This is often used as evidence of the evil nature of the Empire. But think about it: the peace of the entire Empire relied on the power of the Death Star. An all out war would cause more casualties than the population of one planet.
Furthmore, it wasn't like Alderaan was all that peaceful. Leia, the princess of Alderaan, was a leader of the Rebellion. She stole the plans to the Death Star on what was supposed to be a diplomatic mission. She also said that she intended to give the plans to her father, presumably a leader on Alderaan.
Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the planet of Alderaan had a large part in the rebellion (seeing as its leaders did). By blowing up this planet, the Empire asserted its power in the Galaxy. If it hadn't been for that one random flaw in deseign, no one would dare challenge it. Thus, peace.
Another real world nation used a similar tactic when they developed an ultimate weapon and then dropped it on two cities.
3. The alternative is probably much worse. Were the rebels really fit to rule? The rebels were like the IRB: they were fighting for a decent cause, but they weren't leaders. Leia couldn't even keep her own planet from being blown up. We are told nothing of their politics, so assuming that would make great leaders is a huge leap of faith.
Again, if it wasn't for that one fatal flaw in the Death Star, the Empire would have kept the peace. There is no evidence that they intefered in the lives of ordinary citizens in a detrimental way. They were obviously able to organize effeciently (building a Death Star can't be easy). These are all characteristics of a functional government, not an evil entity.
