Its not that difficult. If a country is void of institutions and any real civil society then It doesn't matter if your Country has 1 million or 500 million, whom ever controls the money and the guns will rule.
The cronies in the third world are just puppets. Military, commercial or drub/crime interests pay them off to make sure everything stays the way it is.
Also the "dependence" on aid also keeps the cronies in check in doing nothing good for their people. Western Aid maintains the status qou as it ensures the cronies are never called on to improve the basic minimums for their people. The West does it so they can continue taking 3% off all the wealth that is stolen from their countries.
The cronies in the third world are just puppets. Military, commercial or drub/crime interests pay them off to make sure everything stays the way it is.
Also the "dependence" on aid also keeps the cronies in check in doing nothing good for their people. Western Aid maintains the status qou as it ensures the cronies are never called on to improve the basic minimums for their people. The West does it so they can continue taking 3% off all the wealth that is stolen from their countries.