Nationality and Cases of Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa since many of these nationality act have remained in force since the emergence of the state, albeit commonly subject to various amendments over time. Before looking at the substance of these rules, it is important to consider why they may be of interest. The definition of modern states’ original body of nationals is an act that necessarily took place in the past, yet the repercussions of a particular approach to this question can be felt for many years or even generations. This is true of some MENA countries where the manner in which the original body of nationals was identified led, in parallel, to the emergence of the phenomenon of statelessness within the their borders. Some of these situations have yet to be fully resolved and instead statelessness has become protracted, with the problem even growing to encompass new generations, as will be seen below. A common method of demarcation of a state’s original body of nationals is on the basis of residence. Thus, people who are residing on the state’s territory when its first autonomous nationality law enters into force – or at another moment that is considered critical in the formation of the state – are bestowed nationality. However, in many cases, the ‘coincidence’ of residence on a particular date is not, in itself, sufficient for the acquisition of nationality. In practice, a prolonged period of residence may be required, 56