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I'm not so sure they are very different. Gondor is supposed to be lesser, decayed, fallen away: Faramir says that they have become more like the "Middle Men," loving warfare for its own sake. Gondor's expansion is a reflection of its pride and power--and for Tolkien, Pride and Power never lead anyplace good.
T himself opposed imperialism, disliked the British Empire (as opposed to England), was an early supporter of Irish Home Rule, and came young to the conclusion the Boer War was wrong.
Of course, it was also necessary for the 'plot' of 3rd Age history that Gondor be mighty while Arnor fell apart- and also for its former might to give an Ozymandias feel to the time of Denethor.
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