Books about how countries ended up the way they are

Hi everyone! I’ve been on a nonfiction kick as of late, and I am looking for nonfiction books about niche topics (anything and everything), but also some very specific things. I am really interested in major events and factors that contributed to the way many countries are today. I’m mainly thinking about how many African countries suffer from European intervention, civil wars, and systemic rape and slavery. Or how Latin American countries like Mexico and Mexicans are exploited for labor. Maybe also about the history of Latin American countries like Trujillo in the DR. How the US and Soviet intervention forever changed the Middle East. Stuff about Soviet Russia. I would also love to learn about more Asian countries! India, China, Vietnam (especially about the war, but much more), the Koreas, etc. History of like the Irish famine. Just anything and anything. Feel free to drop recommendations about random, completely unrelated niche topics. Thank you!

*Sorry in advance if I’m getting any of my history and facts mixed up. Again, thank you.