@Edent Like many imperial space operas the time setting relies on technology to colonise planetary systems beyond those we currently have.

As political constructs though I'm reminded of the Spanish colonisation of parts of America as well as English colonisation of many other nations. Colonisation and exploitation of indigenous resources isn't kind whether we see it in Dune or the Avatar setting of Pandora or in West Papua and Papua New Guinea. Or Middle Eastern nations like Palestine. Or ...