As told in Alexander Freed's novel Victory's Price, Palpatine established a system that invited every being to become party to the Empire's own corruption, and so strengthened the dominance of the dark side. The Emperor observed everything the citizens of his galaxy did, looking for evidence of their corruption, and he grew dissatisfied with Alderaan; that was why Tarkin didn't even need permission to destroy the planet, because he knew it was at the top of the target list. Ironically, it would prove to be a mistake, because Alderaan's destruction became a perfect recruitment tool for the Rebel Alliance after they managed to blow up the Death Star.
It seems Palpatine had always underestimated Alderaan - and its senator, Bail Organa. According to E.K. Johnston's new Star Wars novel Queen's Hope, he foolishly overlooked the influence of the Clone Wars upon the peaceful planet. Alderaan had always been close to the Jedi, and there is a strange sense in which Bail Organa led his world to better embody their beliefs better than the Jedi did themselves; the Alderaanians reached out to the galaxy in need, offering not only wealth but doctors, teachers, and architects to help with the rebuilding. Meanwhile, the Alderaanians also welcomed countless refugees. But the experience of the Clone Wars changed Alderaan, in a way unnoticed by either the Jedi or the Sith. As Johnston's novel says:
"The heart of Alderaan had changed. It was still a peaceful planet with no large weaponry to speak of, but it was organized. The ships in the royal fleet had more teeth; their officers had seen more hardship.
The lungs of Alderaan had changed. They still lived for art and beauty, but they manufactured more practical items now, and in larger quantities. The people were still dreamers, but their dreams stretched beyond the limits of the atmosphere.
The world of Alderaan had changed. It was still a beautiful place that hid treacherous cliffs and forgotten crevasses, but it was quietly filling up. Refugees from all over the Republic came there to find their way again, or to stay. It was more cosmopolitan, more creative. More dangerous to those who stood for evil."
Bail Organa became one of the founders of the Rebel Alliance. Unlike his fellow Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
It is no surprise the Emperor underestimated Alderaan. The planet and its leaders stood for everything Palpatine scorned: selflessness, generosity, hope, and comion. Its citizens paid a fearful price for their goodness, but they left an enduring legacy. Their lives shone brightly in the light, and in Star Wars the light always defeats the darkness.
