Post Colonial Nation building in Africa

Among the many political and social changes that took place ensuing World War II the colonial states declared their independence. As Samuel Huntington describes in "Political Order in Changing Societies" these communities faced many hardships and are still undergoing the difficulties associated with gaining independence. Tension becomes increasingly severe with the topics of ethnicity, language, region, tradition, and religion. Turmoil regarding these issues ultimately undermines political stability and the ability of new states to effectively …

…political institutions to mediate these conflicts, instability is inevitable. We as Americans often overlook the value of strong political institution because we have had great success with ours. Our process of modernization was dispersed over several centuries and therefore issues could be dealt with before they were exacerbated. With the budding independence throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia, Huntington's priority of a political institution before modernization seems to be the most viable prescription for prosperity.