Xandoli,

It's true that the international public spotlight rarely falls on Canada, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands and many other middle powers that have modern, prosperous, politically stable and relatively progressive societies and economies and that play a constructive but not pushy role on the international stage.

The UK has been having an awkward few decades adjusting to the fact that such a middle power role would fit its current power and resources much better than futile efforts (in Tony Blair's oft-quoted words) to 'punch above its weight' as an almost major power.

BTW, isn't it about time that we Canadians dropped the 'Colonial Cringe' vis a vis the UK looking back in time and the US looking forward?