Clive James, the late formidable critic, traced the fundamental differences between the United States and Australia, his home country:
“Superficially, Australia is like America; and yet profoundly different … the differences reside precisely in the discrepancy of scale, which finally dictates that Australia, short of physical power, must rely on influence instead. In times of trouble, the United States can send the Screaming Eagles. Australia must send Cate Blanchett.”
