I loved the way the institute was portrayed, and it makes a great metaphor for imperialism.

Most of the people in the institute really aren’t “evil” per se, they are just profoundly insulated from the consequences of their own choices. Out of sight out of mind. Just like the technologically advanced imperial core. And of course to enable that, they work with people who really are evil, like that mercenary dude (forget his name) do actually do their bidding out in the field, so they can preserve their insulated existence.