Francis Fukuyama is the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the Director of Stanford's Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy. He is the author of many books including The End of History and the Last Man, The Origins of Political Order, and most recently, Liberalism and its Discontents. ... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! The sixth and final post on Francis Fukuyama’s recent book Liberalism and its Discontents. The Moderation of Liberalism Francis Fukuyama includes a puzzling line near the beginning of Liberalism and its Discontents. The title suggests an uncompromising defense of liberalism against its critics. However, Fykuyama writes, "The answer to these discontents is... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! The fifth of six posts on Francis Fukuyama’s recent book Liberalism and its Discontents. The Discontent for Liberalism from the Right The fiercest attacks against liberalism have always come from conservative intellectuals. Indeed, Americans imagine conservatism as the antithesis of liberalism. But conservatism is not the same as illiberalism. Moreover, conservatism can... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! The fourth of six posts on Francis Fukuyama’s recent book Liberalism and its Discontents. Leftist Discontent for Liberalism The left has a long, but complicated relationship with liberalism. Liberalism began as a radical movement of reform. But it became conservative after it accomplished its original aims. Many liberals looked to consolidate their... Continue Reading →
The third of six posts on Francis Fukuyama’s recent book Liberalism and its Discontents. Economic Liberalism Liberalism is a loaded term. Americans think of an ideology associated with the left. Europeans think of a laissez-faire school of economics associated with Mises, Hayek, and Friedman. Meanwhile, academics imply a form of political liberalism when they refer... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! The second of six posts on Francis Fukuyama’s recent book Liberalism and its Discontents. Why Does Liberalism Matter Like so many other ideas in the political lexicon, liberalism is surprisingly difficult to define. Francis Fukuyama, however, does not shy away from the attempt. He writes, "Classical liberalism is a big tent that... Continue Reading →
The first of six posts on Francis Fukuyama's recent book Liberalism and its Discontents. Liberalism Under Attack Francis Fukuyama loves to take an idea and turn it upside down. He became widely known for proclaiming an end to history. Today's readers may look at this idea with disdain, but few of them recall how... Continue Reading →
Francis Fukuyama’s fourth book seems out of place. It does not neatly fit into the canon of political science. Fukuyama admits as much. His preface reads like something between an apology and an explanation. His first words read, “Writing a book on biotechnology might seem to be quite a leap for someone who in recent... Continue Reading →
Francis Fukuyama established his reputation with the publication The End of History and the Last Man, but it is his two-volume work on political order which is his masterpiece. It is this work which realizes ambitions which were implied but never attempted in his earlier writings. And both its achievements and flaws originate from his... Continue Reading →
Fukuyama’s two volume work is largely based upon Huntington’s Political Order in Changing Societies. It’s a very high bar to achieve. Political Order in Changing Societies is an absolute masterpiece. It is so thorough and so well researched. Huntington bridges the divide between the behaviorists and the traditionalists before him, so he simply has a... Continue Reading →
