Observations about successful countries - this is not meant to be a thorough examination and I focused mostly on major countries.

Successful countries in recent times? This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, and reflects my limited knowledge as an American.

JAPAN

Strong points: starting around 1900, high population, high social order, educated and industrious people, sufficiently entreprenurial, isolated from potential enemies by sea.

Some accomplishments: They were able to industrialize quickly and recover from the defeat of World War II, accumulated capital rather than debt.

Negatives: They were overly aggressive, and made the mistake of imitating the evil strategies followed by the European colonial powers for centuries. Secondly, their population reached a plateau, causing them to steadily decline in relative importance and strength.

THE UNITED STATES

Strong points: starting around 1850, high population, high social order, educated and industrious people, sufficiently entreprenurial, extremely endowed with natural resources, isolated from potential enemies by sea.

Some accomplishments: strong economic growth, population growth, resisted Stalinist totalitarianism, and, for a time, accumulated capital rather than debt.

Negatives: Were cruel to native Americans, adopted cruel standards of punishment (particularly lengthy prison sentences), tend to practice being the world's policeman without bothering to understand the world, or bothering to appear empathetic, and while allaying themselves with cruel regimes and organizations (for example, the Shaw of Iran), have spent themselves into bankruptcy or near bankruptcy.

CHINA

Strong points: starting around 1980, high population, high social order, educated and industrious people, sufficiently entreprenurial, isolated from potential enemies by sea.

Some accomplishments: superb economic growth, accumulate capital rather than accumulate debt.

Negatives: have repressed their people religiously and politically.

GREAT BRITAIN

Strong points: starting around 1770, high population, high social order, educated and industrious people, sufficiently entreprenurial, isolated from potential enemies by sea.

Some accomplishments: high economic growth, numerous scientific accomplishments, martial persistence (defeating Napolean and Hitler).

Negatives: population levelled off, questionable economic policies at times.

ISRAEL

Strong points: starting around 1950, dense and growing population, high social order, educated and industrious, sufficiently entreprenurial, support from a major power (the United States),

Some accomplishments: staying in existence when surrounded by enemies, martial persistence.

Negatives: demonizing enemies and failing to have good relations with the Palestinians.

RUSSIA (nearly successful?)

Strong points: starting around 1900, large population, massive natural resources.

Some accomplishments: defeated Hitler (which was partly due to Hitler's decision to be a violent and malevolent invader rather than simply liberate the people from Stalinist rule), mostly overcame Stalinism.

Negatives: Marxist-Leninist Communism, corruption.