USA

Thorougly unpleasant dual speed country big on international bullying (military and economic), executions and protectionism for rednecks. Like Australia, it has pockets of civilisation around the outside, but the middle conspires to be both liver-meltingly dull and genuinely terrifying, with the landscape responsible for the former, and the locals the latter. An empire in all but name for much of the 20th century - and like all former Empires - it is currently having difficulty adjusting to humility. Responsible for some excellent television programmes, some atricious movies, and - with the exception of cricket - all of the world's boring sports. Also responsible for every spurious war waged since 1870.