You… Must… Choose! When Interests and Values Collide
Interests and values serve as important motivators during times of conflict and negotiation. However, interests and values are not always aligned. How should we go about choosing which to prioritize? A chapter by (Adrian Borbély, Bruno André Giraudon, and Tariel Sikharulidze in Star Wars and Conflict Resolution: There are Alternatives to Fighting sheds light on this through discussing three different scenes in the Star Wars saga in which characters faced difficult choices between their interests and their values.
During Han and Leia’s refuge in Cloud City, Lando Calrissian’s values caught him in-between Han and Darth Vader. Lando wanted to defend the interests of the people of Cloud City, which pushed him toward Darth Vader, but he also valued loyalty and friendship, which pushed him toward Han Solo. This scene shows that one can only negotiate with the enemy, in this case Vader, if the interests one stands to satisfy through the negotiation supersedes one’s values. However, this often causes an unstable situation. When the blow to personal values becomes to strong to bear, people will regret their choice, abandon their interests and follow their values. In this case, once Lando realized the ultimate harm that would occur to Han, Leia, and Chewbacca due to his choice, he abandoned his self-interest in Cloud City to help Han and Leia escape.
Throughout Return of the Jedi, Luke attempts to appeal to the humanity and the family-oriented values of his father, Darth Vader. Darth Vader must choose between his interests in serving Emperor and his family values. When Palpatine threatens to kill Luke, Darth Vader throws Palpatine down a reactor shaft. In this situation, Vader’s values of protecting Luke ultimately superseded his interest in ruling the galaxy and in exploiting the power of the dark side.
Throughout Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, the Emperor uses Anakin’s interests and values against him in order to turn to the dark side. When Anakin is asked by Obi-Wan to spy on the Chancellor, an act against the Jedi code, Anakin begins to lose trust in the Jedi and the Council, and Palpatine manipulates him into recognizing this and saying it aloud. Then by telling Anakin the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise, who could bring the dead back to life, Palpatine intentionally speaks directly to Anakin’s interest of keeping his loved ones alive and protected no matter what. Finally, when Mace Windu almost kills Palpatine, apparently comfortable with executing him without a trial, Anakin disarms and kills Windu. He did so because his values and interests were aligned with each other and pushed him toward siding with Palpatine. He was outraged by MAce Windu’s setting aside of the due process and righteousness of the Jedi (values), and he needed Palpatine to live in order to save Padme (interests). Palpatine offered to satisfy his interests and preserve his values; Mace Windu was about to shatter both. This alignment is what secured Anakin’s turn to the dark side.
— Written by Elizabeth Mayans, SW&CR Padawan and 2L student at the University of Oregon School of Law
