You can argue that pursuit of empire was pursuit of large markets it was the fear of not having a big enough mark

We strove American influence to build its own small colonial Empire in the Philippines and wanting to influence China

Because USA was worried about not being able to sell stuff to people

And Europe from the early 16th century onward was in a fight to see which nation would unite the continent in its own Warring States period

So you could say the powerful and influential where fighting for their country and that a reason for the declining governance

Is because politics has become less serious due to lack of War

Not that am saying wars a good thing and that men should go and fight in the trenches just that it's a fact