I think the best frame of reference is to look at colonisation by British in comparison to other countries. The difference is that the British tended to leave behind a system of governance wbased on English common law, which stretches back a millennia. That also leads to functioning institutions.

So while some see colonisation as exploitation - certainly by the standards of today it is unthinkable - in other cases you can see the bequeathed laws and institutions have made up for that over time, leaving those countries able to stand on their own feet. The peaceful transitions are by design with the promotion of the rule of law and creation of Houses of Parliament and courts and separated church, government and armed forces.

Interestingly the school of thought I have read says that the commonwealth independent model has everything to do with American independence - better to have a stake in something than lose everything.