I mean the British had a huge role in ending slavery, not because it was the right thing to do but because other countries were doing it better and so it was better to invest in stopping others than doing it themselves

The US and USSR similarly ended most colonialism because they were the most powerful nations in the world and yet couldn’t compete in that field

As countries become powerful, they seek to destroy whatever the previous symbol of power was and replace it with whatever they’re good at until the next newly powerful country comes along