How has the West shaped state formation in the developing world? (e.g.
africa, middle east)

The British educated their future leaders (often in prison), trained
their military, and wrote their constitutions - which often did not
last long.

The Commonwealth possibly acts as a minor disincentive to really
outrageous behaviour.

The West acts as a form of 'brain drain' for talented but not
nomenclatura people eg: we nick their doctors.