The seeds of galactic civil war were sown not in 22 BBY, but through a decade of growing discontent. Count Dooku, the charismatic former Jedi Master who had renounced his vows under mysterious circumstances, emerged as the figurehead of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Through careful manipulation of legitimate grievances, Dooku convinced thousands of star systems that the Republic had become too corrupt, too bloated, and too ineffective to serve their interests.
The Antar 4 schism exemplified the galaxy's division. This once-unified system became a microcosm of the larger conflict, with brother fighting brother over whether to remain loyal to the Republic or join Dooku's Separatist movement. Similar debates raged across countless worlds, as planetary governments weighed the benefits of Republic membership against the promises of independence offered by the Confederacy.
The Separatist movement drew strength from the Trade Federation, Techno Union, InterGalactic Banking Clan, and Commerce Guild - mega-corporations that had grown wealthy and powerful under Republic rule but now chafed under regulations and taxation. These corporate entities provided the Separatists with vast armies of battle droids, transforming what might have been a political secession into a military juggernaut capable of challenging the Republic itself.