South Korea with its long history of democracy dating from the early 90s... Had a little help from giant US embassies and military bases in the middle of it for the last 70 years. Imagine if it weren't a US "ally" what it would look like. The idea that things are the way they are today because of some inevitable movement of history rather than submission to pressures from the world hegemon; pretty sure that idea won't survive historical scrutiny.

I suppose I could be wrong though! Our state department informs me that I am wrong!

America literally wrote Japan's constitution after WWII and had a heavy role in guiding the development of Japan.