Tarkin Doctrine

The Tarkin Doctrine was the name that the media gave to a statement Wilhuff Tarkin made during an interview following his promotion from Moff to the first Grand Moff by the Emperor, Sheev Palpatine, five years after the formation of the Galactic Empire. It outlined his beliefs about why the Republic had needed to be unified into the Empire, and praised Palpatine for his leadership. In the doctrine he asked each Imperial citizen to do their part, especially the vast military, which he justified as being necessary to defend the Empire and keep the peace.

Indeed otherwise known as the Doctrine of Fear, the doctrine was rooted in Tarkin's theory of "Rule by Fear"—the contention that overwhelming displays of force, rather than force itself, were the most effective means of maintaining internal security and the loyalty of vassal worlds. The Emperor's adoption of the "rule by fear" concept indirectly led to the accelerated development of the Death Star.