Mankind’s history is replete with nations seeking the economic benefits of empire building. Each believed that their culture was superior to all others and that by exporting it they would make the world a better place. To accomplish this goal they had to either subsume existing governmental structures or destroy them.
Using carrot and stick techniques, they controlled conquered countries by instilling fear in the populace and rewarding those (usually the wealthy) who cooperate. However, every nation eventually overreaches their ability to impose their way of life. In more recent times the use of economic power had proven more effective than military power, but dependance upon sources of energy has made using force to control commodity access more attractive.
Because most people want to simply have a life with sufficient means to raise their family in relative comfort and security, they will adapt to whatever regime rules their world. However, a few who find the constraints upon their freedoms to be unacceptable will become the source of movements to resist and eventually overthrow the existing power structure.