You're listening to imaginary worlds, a show about how we create them and why we suspend our disbelief.

I'm Eric Milinsky.

Four years ago, I put out an episode called Fantasy and Fascism. I looked at how different sci-fi fantasy worlds have

portrayed fascism, from Star Wars to superhero dystopias like the boys. This time I wanted to look at why democracies fall. What did they do wrong?

Often in a fantasy world when a totalitarian regime takes over, it comes out of nowhere.

It's kind of like the animated movie Yellow Submarine, you know, the one with the Beatles.

At the beginning, we see a peaceful paradise called Pepperland and then the Blue Meanies attack.

The people of Pepperland are completely defenseless.

Sir, Sir, the Blue Minis are coming.

Not here, young Fred.

They wouldn't dare.

They would, they are. What are you going to do?

Finish the Quartet.

But how fascism

But how fascism takes over internally is a lot more complicated.

There's a scene in the Star Wars prequel Revenge of the Sith,

where Palpatine is about to become emperor. He's the Chancellor of the Sith. the establish an empire. And he lies.

He says the Jedi were traitors.

He also engineered a fake war to give himself emergency powers.

Natalie Portman's character, Senator Padme Amadala says,

So this is how liberty dies.

With thunderous applause. When I did my last episode on fascism, I talked with Stephen Sase.

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