Quote Originally Posted by alh_p View Post
I would be most interested in how you define a quantitative measure (size) by highly qualitative means (large/small) and especially the mechanisms by which this "size" translates into a state's greater propensity for self examination?
Call it a rule of thumb. I am afraid I can't give you an exact formula. But if I could, I would certainly factor in democracy.

Large + democracy = bigger propensity for self-examination

Leave out one or the other and you get The Netherlands and China respectively.
Additionally, what's to say that self examination isn't some form of revisionism, suiting past precedent to a modern political (or other) purpose?
There is always that aspect to the (re)writing of history, but mainly in non-democratic countries where the authorities have leverage over the media, historiography, etcetera. A prime example of that would be Mao's Cultural Revolution.