The Galactic Empire was infamous for amplifying the anti-alien sentiments of the former
Republic that arose during the twilight years of its life and were later amplified during
the height of the Clone Wars, as the Separatists were
made up of a majority of non-Human aliens.
While the Empire did not explicitly have laws forbidding aliens from joining its ranks,
it became noticeably clear through its propaganda efforts
and who held the real power within its hierarchy that Humans were valued as superior to all
other species.
One of these propaganda efforts was best displayed through the Human High Culture policy,
which exclusively prompted Human only works of art, literature that encouraged sentiments
of Humans being the backbone of all advanced
civilizations, and other content that devalued the
contributions of aliens.
While pure Humans were viewed as the most superior to all others, alien species outside
of this group were not all viewed and treated the
same either, as there were certain lenient exceptions
made to a few specific groups of non-Humans.
After Humans, near-Humans were treated the best under the Galactic Empire.
Near-Humans were alien species that shared very close
genetics to Humans, with the differences ranging from
being barely noticeable to very obvious.
Near-Humans were believed to have been pure Humans at one point, but because they were
isolated to certain climates on foreign planets for
long periods, they followed a separate evolutionary path.
Those that were born from a mixed Human and alien relationship were also viewed as near-
humans.
Examples of Near-Humans were the Chiss, Zeltrons, Kiffar, and Pantorans.
Although they shared near identical physical size and humanoid
shapes, they tended to have different skin tones or patterns that differentiated them
from the so-called pure Humans.
Clones were also likely viewed and treated the same as near-Humans, as they were at times
viewed as sub-human, due to their birth process not being natural.
A handful of Near-Humans were known to make up the Empire’s highest ranks, like Grand
Admiral Thrawn, Grand Moff Bertroff Hissa, Officer Krieg, and Imperial Ruling Council
Members Mas Amedda and Sly Moore.
A lower category of near-Humans also saw aliens such as the Pau'ans, Utais, Hapans, and
Sullustans.
Although they contained far more apparent physical differences compared to
Humans, their relative humanoid shapes still classified them as near-Humans.
Though their treatment by the Empire was closer to that
of aliens that shared little to no likeness to Humans.
Another sub-category of this would also place cyborg Humans around this placement, with
their cybernetics being looked down upon by fellow
peers, even if they were a result of a hard-earned
battle.
This was likely due to the anti-droid sentiment among many Imperials that stemmed from
the Clone Wars, whose distrust of droids bled into Humans who either augmented their bodies
with cybernetics or had to survive off them.
After near-humans and cyborgs, came the general aliens that shared little to no similarities
to Humans.
These included Hutts, Mon Calamari, Kaleesh, and Trandoshans.
They were for the most part absent from the high ranks of the
Empire, with most only obtaining low level, non-
military positions such as technicians or janitorial.
Along with not having the opportunity to climb the Imperial hierarchy, aliens of this group
tended to see the most brutal acts of the Empire
being committed against them during warfare, as the
Imperial Senate did not levy the same standards toward their planets as they did toward Human
and near-Human ones.
The most unfortunate members of this group were deemed as non-sentient by the Imperial
Senate as well, in which case they could be used as Slave labor.
Those that were marked as such included the Wookiees and Geonosians,
both of which were viewed more as wild beasts and as mere insects rather than fully conscious
beings.
And perhaps the lowest of the Alien Hierarchy in regards of the Galactic Empire, were the
droids.
While obviously not alien, droids were treated the worst in every regard, from being
forced to work in the most grueling conditions to being treated as mere tools rather than
living beings.