I read the occasional EU work, but mostly I find it pretty easy to fill in gaps in political information of the galaxy in my head.
I’d argue that you can live without it, but I think it’d’ve helped to know even just a little bit more. I think JJ wanted to make it easy for general audiences to get good guys vs bad guys, but it’s a bit more complicated than that so those who are curious are left somewhat confused, at least on first watch.