Why did the Resistance use the Rebel symbol while the First Order didn't use the Empire's?

Question

From Wookieepedia:

The Rebel Alliance starbird was a symbol of the Alliance to Restore the Republic. The flight helmets of the Rebel X-wing pilots were adorned with the starbird logo. Nearly thirty years after the Battle of Endor, the Resistance adopted the same emblem. Many pilots, including Poe Dameron, wore helmets featuring the logo.

This is really strange to me as the First Order openly seeks to emulate the Empire in its mission to dominate the Galaxy. Yes, the Resistance is made up of a lot of former Rebel Alliance supporters, but the Resistance was only created in order to stop the First Order. The Resistance's similarity to the Rebel Alliance is more coincidental; that's just how it played out. The First Order is intentionally emulating the Empire, both in mission and look. Give how much the First order mirrors the Empire, why didn't they use the Imperial Symbol?

Why did the Resistance use the Rebel symbol while the First Order didn't use the Empire's?

_{In or out-of-universe answers are fine. If there's no canon info, I'll welcome some speculation.}

Answer 1

Possibly because the Imperial Crest itself

was modeled on the logo of the Old Republic, known as the Galactic Roundel:

Combined with the symbol of the old Republic's Navy:

Since the New Republic was the clear heir to the Republican throne, and the First Order despised the Republic and everything associated with it, it would make sense for them to distance themselves from the Imperial logo and its Republic origins.

Furthermore, the Rebel Alliance was victorious, and their achievements were something to be proud of. The Empire, on the other hand, had been crushed by a ragtag group of insurgents and a handful of primitive teddy bears. Again, this is a very good reason for the Order to distance itself from the embarrassing historical record of the Empire, to whatever degree was possible.

Finally, the Imperial Crest brought up a lot of very bad memories for much of the galaxy - this also may have played a role convincing the First Order to consider a change of aesthetics.

On a side note, the Resistance adopted the symbol of the Alliance to Restore the Old Republic, but so did the New Republic:

On their torsos sit carbon-lace armor, the shoulders marked with the sigil of the New Republic: the Alliance starbird, now inside a sunburst. The symbol of a changed day, a new dawn. The phoenix, truly reborn.

• Star Wars - Journey to the Force Awakens: Aftermath

Answer 2

This is just speculation on my part, but I believe the reason the First Order wants to create an obvious, yet deniable, connection to the Empire.

It is sensible to assume that after Palpatine's defeat, the newly formed New Republic banned all symbols of the old regime so the galaxy could overcome its dark past - similarly to how Nazi symbols are banned in many European countries. The First Order wanted to be recognised as a legitimate political entity, and at least de jure adhered to the Galactic Concordance before Force Awakens. It could not claim to be the Empire's legal successor, or use any of its (banned) iconography, but it also needed to show that they followed Palpatine's vision, at least in spirit.

Thus, as a compromise, they created that fanged mouth symbol. It was similar enough to the Empire's emblem to attract its old supporters, but was technically not the Empire's emblem, and Snoke could always deny the similarity as coincidental.

You see something like this with modern-day far-right groups: they cannot show Hitler's swastika, and instead substitute similar, but distinct symbols, like the Celtic cross, Norse runes, or a swastika-like Greek meander. That, for example, is the flag of the Golden Dawn.

Answer 3

Let's first look at the Opening Crawl:

Episode VII THE FORCE AWAKENS

Luke Skywalker has vanished. In his absence, the sinister FIRST ORDER has risen from the ashes of the Empire and will not rest until Skywalker, the last Jedi, has been destroyed.

With the support of the REPUBLIC, General Leia Organa leads a brave RESISTANCE. She is desperate to find her brother Luke and gain his help in restoring peace and justice to the galaxy.

Leia has sent her most daring pilot on a secret mission to Jakku, where an old ally has discovered a clue to Luke’s whereabouts…

"From the ashes" is our first clue. The Empire has fallen. Past tense.

The second is the rebel insignia itself - it's an abstraction that is quite reminiscent of the Jedi Order insignia during the Clone Wars: An elongated star arising between wings displayed sans bird.

The Resistance is, judging from the persons present, and the insignias, both rank and squadron, essentially New Republic Detached Forces. This has a number of historical precedents in the real world. The US has generated several such "volunteer groups" over the years... the most famous being the American Volunteer Group, under Gen. Chennault, which fought in China against the Japanese more than a year before the US officially joined the war. Likewise, the "Polish Air Force" was a mixture of US and UK citizens, Polish refugees, and some cadre and planes that escaped German bombing, which served the "Polish Government in Exile." The AVG, or Flying Tigers, used US uniforms, but without the usual patches. The PAF used Polish uniform patterns manufactured in the UK (when they bothered to wear uniforms, according to a former member). The PAF and the Flying Tigers both retained the insignia of their parent services for the duration of their "irregular status" during WW II.

The Resistance has the same kind of look as the AVG: uniforms with slightly differentiated insignia, the same symbols of allegiance, and same rank structures and equipment. (The Resistance uses bars on the rank plate, where the Rebellion used dots... but it really does look like they just "connected the dots".)

Meanwhile, looking to some of the chatter about the current canon novels, it generally seems that the Empire as a whole fell (just like in the SWEU), and like the SWEU, it appears several portions of the Empire continued to exist after the New Republic. Some of which apparently sued for peace with the New Republic.

Snoke's stated goals, as elucidated by his mouthpiece officer, General Hux, include conquering not just the New Republic, but also the other Former Imperials. Since they are, essentially, at war with the rest of the galaxy, having unique insignia is of utility. It's a practical matter to keep themselves from identifying with "lesser remnants"...

We can see that the First Order is strong; surprisingly so given the hype about it being a remnant. It's professional. It needs a logo for both morale and intimidation value. The old Imperial logo lacks a certain credibility... both with fans ("You got beaten by a bunch of Teddy Bears") and the residents of the Galaxy ("You no longer have clear superiority"). It also is quite likely that the other remnants of the Empire are reverted to somewhat less militaristic states.

Also, there is historical use to think about... Many a nation has fallen, and/or split... The Bosnians, Serbians, and Croatians continue to use the Uniforms and Equipment of Yugoslavia... but use different national symbols. Likewise, the Russian Federation uniforms are much like the Soviet ones - same ranks, same insignia of grade, but the double eagle replaces the hammer and sickle, and RFR replaces SSSR. Japanese Self Defense Forces uniforms are not much different from the Imperial Japanese Navy uniforms.

So, essentially, The First Order needs to distinguish between themselves and other "Imperial Remnants" for both political and practical reasons, and wants to retain compatibility with extant gear (and possibly gear captured from other remnants). The Resistance wants to show it's ties to the New Republic for propaganda reasons, and makes minimal changes so as to not break the treaties with other factions of the old Empire.

Now, out-of-universe, it is a marketing ploy. All the really cool toys are First Order... because we only see the T-70A X-Wing II for the Resistance, but we see the Landers, Ties, at least one other starcraft... And by different branding, there's less confusion for the end purchase over who the good guys are (by retaining a familiar symbol), and more freedom to play the "Impies vs Firsties" with your collection of figures and toys.

Answer 4

First off, I'm not sure how one choice should affect the other. Going by the Aftermath books, the ongoing Marvel comic series and the novel 'Bloodline', the First Order appears to have been around in one form or another for decades prior to TFA. Leia only formed The Resistance within the last 5 or 6 years and it was when she'd only just started to hear whispers and hints that the First Order was out there.

Leia's choice (assuming it was her's) to reclaim the old phoenix/star bird symbol is a bit of a no-brainer. It's been the symbol of rebellion and resistance in the galaxy since before the Galactic Civil War. It should be obvious why she'd want to start waving that flag, not least because most of the senior Resistance leaders are old Rebel Alliance veterans.

The First Order on the other hand is meant to be something new. While details are still scant, the general impression is that it was founded by the last surviving remnants of the Imperial fleet. The hard core Imperials and true believers who refused to surrender to the New Republic, choosing instead to flee into the Unknown Regions after the Battle of Jakku. They don't seem to see themselves as continuation of Palpatine's Empire but a purified version of it's ideals, freed of the petty corruption that plagued it.

So they've come up with a symbol to reflect that. Evoking the old Imperial crest, but still it's own thing. Leaner and meaner.

Answer 5

Possibly because the Rebel Alliance never really went away, whereas the Galactic Empire was crushed and the First Order (a new organization), rose from its ashes.

Answer 6

Actually the First Order symbol is based on the Galactic Empire's symbol. Before that it was used by the Republic, but even earlier, it was a crest of the Sith Empire:

The Sith Empire based it's crest on the Galactic Roundel of the Bendu Order.

This is the Old Republic's crest:

Answer 7

The original Empire symbol (gear in circle) reminded First Order of the Death Star main blaster. I know the blast was converging on one point, then a big blast. The symbol, which might be the business end of the Planet Killer, is used to show the galaxy their power.

Answer 8

Let's face it. The resistance may have chosen to use a symbol that has significant meaning to anyone anywhere. It was a beacon of hope and therefore continued to carry that torch as the remaining factions of the empire still remained. Also with the first order... to my knowledge they are not a separate entity, but an extension of the overthrown empire. They could have possibly been a separate force in itself like other military forces in history. Napoleon had his Old guard, the nazis had the SS, and even the aztecs had the jaguar warriors. Could be the first order is the same thing... and since they would have been off the Death Star had a chance to survive and thrive... there fore they may have kept their symbol as the surviving force.