Board Thread:Warhammer 40k General Discussion/@comment-7232811-20130620224607/@comment-4851119-20140601085517

Supahbadmarine wrote:

...Regarding reporession one would say that the Imperium creates an environment that seems to promote tyranny rather than being tyrannical themselves. You said it in one sentence Supah. That's the most sensible thing I've heard about the Imperium in a long time.

The Imperium actually runs on a similar principle to the Tarkin Doctrine in Star Wars - keep everyone in line through fear of their planet being blown up, rather than by actually blowing their planet up. Only actually blow the planet up if it's really necessary, then use it as an example to scare everyone else in the subsector back into line. Rule through fear of force where possible, and only use force where it's well and truly needed.