One of the central political challenges facing numerous African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries over the past half-century has been how best to maneuver successfully through the related, but not necessarily parallel, processes of creating and articulating a national identity, achieving independence from colonial rule, and developing predictable and legitimate institutions of governance (that is, state formation). How a national community elects to approach these formidable tasks is influenced by a plethora of factors, including the constraints and opportunities represented by the international and regional environment and the attributes of key leaders. Understanding this phenomenon is not simply an academic exercise, as the strategies pursued may have a significant impact on the shape the eventual state takes.