Many nations around the world began as colonies of another power, but the United States and Australia seem to be the only ones that really succeeded as independent states. What set them apart from all the other Colonial nations that have either struggled to succeed or have all but failed altogether?

by saintlie

EyeStache

What do you define as "success," because Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, and Bahrain are all pretty high up on the Human Development Index and were former colonies (or, in the case of Bahrain, a protectorate)

SenorGuero

There are some really good answers to this and similar questions if you search "former colony" but the top comment [here] (https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/499v1z/why_have_places_like_canada_australia_new_zealand/) is a good place to start