Since 1945, one hundred and thirty three new nation states have emerged. Hundreds
of diverse, multicultural states have now joined the original handful of nations forged in
Europe. One hundred and thirty three of the one hundred and seventy five1 countries
ranked by the United Nations 2006 Human Development Report are recognized as having
been subjected to colonialism under France, Portugal, Great Britain, Spain, the Soviet
Union, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Of these one hundred and thirty three countries,
one hundred and three consist of more than one ethnic group.