I had always assumed two things: 1) the Federation-Cardassian war was essentially a border dispute which suggests the Cardassians were expansionists and conquerors; and 2) Bajor, located in "Deep Space" was far away from the prying eyes of other powers and their judgements, but that once Cardassia's treatment came to light, and became a political issue in post-war negotiation, it was easiest to dispense with it, much to the chagrin of the people who thought they were governing it competently in the service of Cardassia.
British colonial dominion was able to justify itself as a superior force handing down education/religion/civilisation/morals to the poor, misguided savages of dark lands.
But the idea that we Brits somehow bestowed freedom on an almost reluctant subcontinent is pretty lame. The idea that life under British rule was prosperous and free, and had we not ceded power then the problems experienced by places like Pakistan or Zimbabwe would not be happening is all pretty extraordinary.
We hear references to the empires of the Klingons, of the Romulans and of the Cardassians and for the most part our freedom-loving Federationers appear utterly blasé about the inherent certainty that those entities conquer worlds and peoples as a matter of course.
So it’s safe to assume these guys are able to justify their conquering and occupation of other lands just as Russia or the US are able to today.
In this mind, when confronted with a backward species on course to destroy itself with unsustainability and nuclear war, the kindest thing to do is to take over and make them part of the all-loving Romulan star empire family.
I guess to use the Britain/India comparison, this makes Britain Romulus and the realities of the global economy the Hobus supernova.
Oh my. God save the Queen.
