> The examples of China, Japan and the USA suggest the exact opposite. I think the comeback of Japan after WW2 speaks against this. Also the US are probably a

> The examples of China, Japan and the USA suggest the exact opposite. I think the comeback of Japan after WW2 speaks against this. Also the US are probably a good example of copying the existing British institutions (with the exception of the crown, although you might argue that the US president is king-like). More broadly speaking, it's probably not so much about "submitting to a rich nation", which is a pretty crazy simplification that doesn't apply to many former colonies. But I think you can find a strong correlation between former parts of the British Empire and now Commonwealth or Ex-Commonwealth and the successful implementation of institutions that give them wealth and freedom. Read "Why Nations Fail" [1] to get some examples of that, one that I remember was https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana. [1] http://www.amazon.com/Why-Nations-Fail-Origins-Prosperity/dp/0307719227 http://www.amazon.com/Why-Nations-Fail-Origins-Prosperity/dp...