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This paper argues nation-building theories that prioritize democratic governance best explain the successful postindependence development of Botswana. Three main competing schools of thought exist regarding the sequencing of policies that should occur to re-build weakened or failed states. The first posits that economic development should receive foremost attention, while democratization and a binding sense of nationalism can wait. A second group of experts identified constructing a sense of nationalism among a populace is necessary first, so that the state receives popular legitimacy and obedience that are prerequisites for development. Botswana, though, transitioned into a multi-party democracy and prosperous open economy due to the utilization of traditional democratic structures, enlightened and accountable leadership, and an educated technocratic civil service. With these political foundations already in place when the discovery of diamonds occurred, the resulting revenues were spent wisely on projects that grew the economy, improved basic living standards, and attracted foreign investment. Thus democratization preceded, and therefore provided an accountable basis for, economic development that might otherwise have been squandered by greedy and isolated elites to the detriment of the greater population. Botswana was one of the poorest nations in the world at the time of its independence in 1966, with little infrastructure, a dependence on apartheid South Africa for trade, and a largely subsistence economy. Over the next thirty years, though, its economy grew the fastest of any nation in the world. The transparent and judicious use of diamond returns is only a partial explanation, as the government also pursued economic diversification, mass education, and rural development in response to public needs. As nation-building has become a project undertaken by nations and multilateral agencies such as the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Botswana may provide best practices that others ...

The article presents an analysis of the origins of the nation-building in Azerbaijan focusing on the discourses
of nation-building, role of religion in defining national identity, and multiculturalism. It argues that Azerbaijanism
embraces a civic understanding of citizenship identity acknowledging Turkish roots with a particular
value and importance to secularism, multiculturalism and tolerance. Azerbaijan consolidated both
its nation and state-building processes after the Second Karabakh War in 2022 and is in the process of redefining
its place in a geo-political context challenged by security concerns over the last decades.

The authors of the present article discuss the situation in Kosovo and the involvement of the German armed forces. CIMIC (Civil-Military Cooperation) and their engagement in peace supporting and trust building activities are discussed through a context of financial and budgetary aspects. Explorations of Kosovo's multi-ethnicity and its originating problems are made. Furthermore, remarks are made on the high sensitivity of the operation; if protection of minorities in future operations is elementary, than protective mechanisms must not only be developed under military presence in crisis zones, but be strengthened by active learning. A time costly operation that requires an unusual capacity of both civilians and the involved military, while success of this strategy depends on selection, training, and guidance of the personnel used in a civilian-military context. References. O. van Zijl