Quote Originally Posted by Adrian II View Post
Small countries probably lack the awareness that they have (or have had) agency, that they could (and can) act independently and make a difference. And the longer they adopt this attitude as their official policy, the more it sticks. Your remark about Dutch 'neutrality' toward nazi-Germany is a case in point.
I think blaming lack of quality on lack of size would be a very masculine lens to apply to a country.

Australia with a population of 20 million has been able to examine itself and understand it's agency although at times it does go back into a reflexive 'it was the guv 'onest' blame game of an issue being because of mother Britain. A bit hard for the White Australia policy and the Stolen Generation to be blamed on Britain since these were well and truly generations after Australian Federation.

Likewise New Zealand with a population at fifth that of Australia would have to be one of the countries with a very acute understanding of its own agency (Waitangi Treaty, Women's right to vote) and takes much more responsibility for its successes and failures then its larger cousin.