Expansionist Oligarchy

The Expansionist Oligarchy comprised a group of powerful corporate entities. They existed for a number of centuries prior to the start of the Clone Wars in 22 BBY. This group aggressively lobbied the Galactic Republic for permission to develop planets within the Outer Expansion Zone. After obtaining these rights, the Oligarchy proceeded to implement harsh labor systems similar to slavery, overexploit natural resources, and brutally put down worker rebellions. Ultimately, the Republic intervened, leading to the Oligarchy's disbandment. Even with the Republic's actions, the very same companies and economic influences that had originally created the Expansionist Oligarchy would later form the Corporate Sector, approximately two centuries afterward. The compromises made between the Republic and these corporations caused even more divisions inside the Republic and the Galactic Senate, shifting the Senate's focus away from the average citizen and increasingly towards the priorities of these large companies.