ABSTRACT
Many countries have recently sought to professionalise their approach to nation building, and to incorporate the lessons learned from previous experiences into their planning and doctrine. Bureaucratic reform may be the least glamorous but most important form of capacity building, because nation building demands extensive coordination among government agencies and established decision-making processes. In 2004 and 2005, several different countries and international organisations reformed their bureaucratic structures for nation building. The reforms adopted by the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the United Nations, the European Union and the G8 each have their own strengths, weaknesses and prospects for further development. The new offices established in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Canada were all designed to overcome this problem by serving as focal points for nation building and coordinating interagency efforts.
