[disgruntledphd2]

How do you explain the existence of the Republic of Ireland then?

It was definitely colonised, lost all it's forests for the navies of the Empire, and yet is actually pretty rich today (although we still have a lot of post-colonial syndrome, to be fair).

[rocknor]

It's in the EU? It has proximity to other rich countries? It wasn't left in nearly as bad state as ME/Africa/South Asia after decolonization? Want more? Just read a book or two.

[MandieD]

Existence: local population determined enough to throw off centuries of oppression by far more powerful neighbor that said neighbor gave it up as a bad job (except for a few northern counties…)

Current wealth: English-speaking, ridiculously tax-incentivized corporate portal to Germany’s economic area