I agree that the material relationship is the same – neo-imperialism is still imperialism – but the extent to which people understand that is important to how they should be treated/how we should attempt to get through to them. If someone is knowingly hurting others we should handle that differently than if they’re hurting others because they think they’re bringing freedom or democracy or whatever.

Of course, the latter is still bad, and someone can be responsible for harm even absent the intention to harm. But it’s a different type of responsibility, and more immediately, it speaks to what might convince them to stop. Someone who understands what they’re doing and still does it won’t be swayed by merely being educated on the subject, for instance. But if someone thinks they’re spreading freedom and democracy and they learn about how something like sanctions on Venezuela or the DPRK actually hurts people? That might move them.