Star Wars: Why The Republic Used Clones Instead Of Droids – Screen Rant

In the Star Wars prequels, the Republic chose to use clones for their army instead of droids, which is a decision that can be traced to George Lucas.

In the Star Wars prequels, the Grand Army of the Republicwas made up entirely of clones, instead of battle droids, and the Republic had good reasons for their decision in that matter. Although clone troopers were some of the best warriors in the galaxy, a droid army would've been easier to produce and command, without a myriad of financial, logistical, and moral issues that accompanied the controversial process of cloning.

The mere idea of a genetically engineered a clone army went against everything the Republic and the Jedi stood for. Millions of living, sentient beings were intentionally created for one purpose: to kill. And then after their mission was over, they were to die off relatively quickly given their accelerated aging.Droids, on the other hand, displayed no such issues. Devoid of emotions, artificial soldiers could follow commands without question and be sacrificed in great numbers without ethical and moral implications. Additionally, a droid army would've easier to make, maintain, and replace.Everything that would go into making a clone army - time, training, shelter, and so forth - wouldn't have been needed for a droid army.

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Part of the reason the Republic used clones instead of droids can be traced to George Lucas and his idea of nature versus technology in the prequels. In Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, the soulless Trade Federation battle droidscontrastedwith the human and Gungans of Naboo, as well as the planet itself.But it was in the later prequel films the clones became the Republic's defenders. Although they were the heroes, the allusions to the faceless imperial troopers were difficult to ignore. So by allowing the clones to do their dirty work, it was implied the Republic and the Jedi both lost their moral compass and, in turn, contributed to their downfall by succumbing to hubris.

In more practical terms, the Republic had chosen to use the clones because it was convenient. The Clone Army was already ready-to-go when Obi-Wan Kenobi visited Kamino. It was ordered and paid in advance in the name of Republic and had full logistical support; the leaders of the Republic could not abandon such an opportunity, especially with the threat that was facing them. Cloning was expensive, but by using the clone troopers, the Republic could avoid the politically tricky matter of conscription. Since the clones were combat-ready, there was no need for investing time and money into bootcamps or droid-producing factories. Further, after the bloodshed at Naboo, it was hard to imagine Republic citizens being supportive of a droid army.

Unlike the mindless droids, the clones were intelligent soldiers, who were able to think creatively and learn and adapt quickly. Those qualities made them superior to any droid on the battlefield. They were also able to show individuality, as seen in The Clone Wars series. All of these qualities strengthened the bond with their commanders, the Jedi Generals. But little did the Jedi know of the darker side of that close relationship. Their proximity to the Jedi allowed the clones to wipe out their commanders when Order 66was executed. After all, the Republic's use of clones instead of the droids was a part of Darth Sidious grand plan; a Trojan horse that toppled down both the Jedi Order and the Republic. Had the Republic used a droid army instead, Order 66 could have been revealed earlier, during a routine checkup.

When all pros and cons are considered, clones outperformed droids on many levels. There were ethical issues to be considered, but the sudden outbreak of war left the Republic with little choice. With the clone army being readily available, and given their superior qualities, it's easy to understand why both the Republic and the Jedi seized the opportunity. The choice paid off, and it was only at the very end of the war, when Palpatine activated his nefarious plan, that the real role of the clones was revealed. Ironically, their role in erasing the Jedi Order from the Star Wars galaxy is the best testament to the superior military prowess of the clone troopers.

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