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Both have large populations, but have entirely different histories and cultures and economies.

Thailand, the UK, and Tanzania have similar populations, that does not mean they are useful comparisons. What about Sri Lanka and Australia, or Syria and Taiwan?

The dialectic is only valuable when comparing things that arent the same. the difference in their economy is the point, the difference in their history is how they got here.

Because the only difference between them is their government, not history, not internal differences, or anything else?

They are only similar in size. Do you mean that size is the only factor when doing operating a government ?