[PGR88]

I’m not disrespecting what Cambodia has achieved, but its not that special

They started from an extremely low, even primitive level. The country was at war for decades, then faced an absolutely extreme, insane Communism for several years. Then they were invaded by Vietnam.

Cambodia is still in no way ruled by wise, enlightened, incorruptible libertarians. In fact, quite the opposite. But remove those previous extremes, and any society will start to find its back to normal in a relatively short time.

[SpaceBar]

You are correct. Yes they've come a long way from the khmer rouge days, but they're also still a basketcase and miserable economic backwater that can't seem to get out of a peculiar sociological rut. Hun Sen was/is just another strongman to keep the tenuous domestic peace. The ticket would be modernization and attracting foreign investment but they remain isolated largely by choice.

[SpaceBar]

They, sadly to say, were at the top of their game while occupied by the french.