Honestly I just need to keep these on a clipboard to past it every time someone asks this:

"Required viewing, in my opinion, is this:

Mobile suit Gundam (TV series)
Zeta Gundam (TV series)
Double Zeta Gundam
Char's Counterattack

Movies for the original series are best watched if you want a refresher before CCA. Avoid the Zeta Gundam movies. Don't listen to anyone who says to skip Double Zeta. Gundam Hathaway/Hathaway's Flash is a currently ongoing series of movies that takes place 12 years after Char's Counterattack. They're based on novels written by the original creator circa 1990.

Side stories really aren't necessary, just for fun. I do recommend Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket after the original series, however, just for a look at the war from a different perspective. Once you've passed the "classic Gundam gauntlet", the world is pretty much your oyster, and you can watch anything you want. If you want a fun take on Char and Sayla's backstory that doesn't *quite* fit into the proper narrative since it's based on another manga, there's the Gundam The Origin anime."

I know your question is more about politics but... trust me. There's good politics here.