This isn’t the first empire. Masses can be brainwashed. You can even have multiple layers of brainwashing, like how Republicans are extremely brainwashed, and Democrats are secondarily brainwashed to think they’re the moral opposition, while both of them unquestioningly support the undercurrent of global imperialism.

Literally the only escape is the entire population being fully educated on the nature of politics, economics, societies, history. A people cannot realize a free and just society without completely understanding what that requires. Until then you’re all just a fish flopping around on the floor of a boat.