The Bond novels do explore Britain's role in the world but for the readers were also a tantalising glimpse into a post-austerity world following the rationing and privations of WWII. Bond visits places (e.g. Monte Carlo, Jamaica, etc) that seemed exotic at the time but would now be viewed as 'boring' by a gap year student. IMO, the Harry Palmer spy stories [1] (e.g. The Impress Files) better reflect the cynical end of empire feeling.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Palmer