India. If not for the British Empire whag would it look like today?

[Anonymous]

[RavVid]

It is quite categorical that former British colonies did much better than countries that were never colonies or colonies of other powers. India for example had an extensive civil service in place before they became independent.

I joke that Australia got an off the shelf box with democracy inside with the instructions shrink wrapped onto it. Aside from democracy, judicial traditions, commercial law and military traditions were also in the the box. We could then fully concentrate on being Better Britons and improving it with secret ballot, universal male franchise, universal female franchise (OK we made some mistakes along the way), pre printed ballot papers, independent electoral commissions, various novel voting systems plus essential nation building services such as the first free public education system and beating the shit out of England at cricket.

The children of the colonial elite often spent time at Oxford and Cambridge. My point is there was knowledge transfer in the British colonies and the capacity to improve it for local conditions and culture.

In the case of India, it would be unlikely it would be one country if not for the British Raj. There are many languages so English is at least a common common language. Plus they have a common sport which they never had before.

On the downside India learnt bureaucracy far too well from the British Raj.

[goaded]

"beating the shit out of England at cricket" Damn you, Sir! C:

[RavVid]

@goaded There is a good case that Australia achieved Nationhood on the cricket field. The various colonies came together and asked England to send out their best cricket team. Australia won the first Test. The word Test is exactly what it was.

Having triumphed , federation became inevitable. We had proved we were indeed Better Britons than the Brits. Exactly as we thought..

A better way than having a revolution like our American cousins - apart from no blood shed there ticket sales to boot..

[goaded]

We've long known you were in league with with aliens!

"Long ago, the people of Krikkit attempted to wipe out all life in the Universe, but they were stopped and imprisoned on their home planet; now they are poised to escape. With the help of Marvin, Zaphod, and Trillian, our heroes prevent the destruction of life in the Universe and go their separate ways." Life, the Universe and Everything at Wikipedia

[RavVid]

@goaded It is entirely true. So are our Indian cousins. They are currently out here for Krikket but we are up 2 to 1 match so far.

[DrPepper12]

Fragmented regional kingdoms only main difference otherwise it's civil & religious strife, classism, poverty, corruption.

[Agape93]

Worse