oppression, depression and selection
Political oppression creates selective pressures on the wanna-be politicians. Only the politically savvy can survive the oppressor and rise up to bring him down. Similarly economic depressions create selective pressures on the wanna-be entrepreneurs and breed great entrepreneurial talent.
This is essentially why the best politicians and entrepreneurs always come from the most fucked up countries. Developed countries should open their doors to them without exerting further selective pressures via tough immigration policies. It is almost guaranteed that these guys will flourish given the right favourable environments.