If we are to accept the alternate reality as presented by Disney of the last few movies as canon, then they are also a serious indictment into the state of the so-called 'New Republic'.
30 years after the Battle of Endor, and the withdrawal of most of the Imperial Fleet and Galactic government to consolidate their forces, we are shown a galaxy where a great number of people live in poverty and squalid conditions. Nothing has improved, actually, it looks like things are worse.
In fact, the current government is divided into the 'Populists', led by Leia, who favour more self-rule and the 'Centrists' who are nostalgic for the days of order and discipline under the Empire and wish to re-create a similar system. For 30 years the government has been weak, disorganized and fragmented, confirming everything the Galactic Empire had warned would happen if rebels took over.
And not even the government of the 'New Republic' is willing to wage a war against the First Order. Why? Because a large amount of their financial backing is in fact coming from within, from citizens and those in government.
This is why a militia is formed under Leia, the 'Resistance', and sets out to fight against a relatively small private army formed from remnants of the Imperial Armed Forces. The advanced technological levels, and ship and weapons innovations of the First Order also indicate that a large number of top scientists and engineers chose to rather abandon the rebel government and rather support the successors of the Galactic Empire.
The First Order consider themselves a liberation force and so do vast amounts of people and territory under the currently occupied territories held by the rebels.
