At least in the prequels the politics make sense. A Republic becomes militarized during a war and slowly democracy dies. It's a good story told badly.
TFA is a bad story told well. The "First Order" don't make a lick of sense. Where did they come from? More importantly where do they get money? Do they tax planets or just blow them up? Would Rome have just blown up Egypt or would they rather have their grain?
If the Republic reformed then why is there a resistance? Don't they have a regular military? Why are they so understaffed when going up against such a threat? None of it is logical past the desire to "have something like the Empire because nostalgia!"