What is a "nation builder"?

The term "nation builder" is commonly used to refer to a person, often a politician, who has been significantly instrumental in the development of a country. Their accomplishments might include setting standards of leadership or governmental conduct or else involvement in important social advocacy work, such as the advancement of women's rights.

Nelson Mandela, for instance, is often described as a nation builder for his commitment to peacefully ending apartheid in South Africa.

The term might also refer to a software platform called NationBuilder, which is used principally by politicians of the United States Republican Party for managing their political campaign data.