My guess is that few people see examples of larger capitalist countries that are not cronyist, state capitalist. The US, UK, France, Germany etc certainly aren't examples.
Then there is the likelihood of colonization or invasion in general and the ability of ideas to spread. Competition between governments is more intense.
It may be Europe got its technological advantage and property rights evolved more quickly there because of more competition between countries. But in the center of a large continent, change is slower.
Staying clear of the boundaries of one's bubble make it easy, too.