Historically, most developed countries had ‘difficult’ phases in their development into functional nation states before they succeeded.  Sometimes when commentators write about the ills plaguing poor countries, they forget that not too long ago,  even some of the countries we now consider great and ‘1st world’,  had difficult, if not painful phases.
I’ve posted the link below as a reference point to some of the ‘madness’ and trial and error Britain experienced at the hands of its monarchs, before it truly became great. In this regard the reference point is through the rule of Kings and Queens. http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/KingsQueensofBritain/