Book excerpt: Most African countries suffer from crises of national identity that are rooted in the formation of pluralistic states, characterised by gross inequities among the component groups. This situation has its roots in colonialism, but instead of seeking remedies and addressing these disparities, many post-independent African governments adopted wholesale the constitutional models of their colonisers. United Nations Advisor Francis M. Deng addresses the challenge faced by these countries and attempts to tackle the difficulties inherent in managing such diversity.