Francis Fukuyama

Enhanced by a new afterword dealing with the post-September 11th world, a provocative exploration of issues of human society and destiny answers such questions as, is there a direction to human history? does history have an end? and where are we now? Reprint. 25,00 first printing.

The End of History and the Last Man

Sean Wilson

This was much better than I expected, though I wasn't convinced of his thesis by the end. But it was very well argued: Fukuyama is exactly right that history is meaningful and has a direction, and that a thesis like his has to account for human nature, in particular, that people want to be recognised as people.

The last few chapters, though, could be confused for a case against the stability and finality of liberal democracy! I found myself not disagreeing with his thesis because of things he omitted, but because of things he conceded along the way.

All things considered, it's worth a read, and you'll probably enjoy doing so.

Max Bodach

Reading Fukuyama is much better than dunking on him, and his argument is fascinating. Of course, you have to agree with Kojeve's reading of Hegel (contra Marx) to agree with Fukuyama, and it all boils down to whether you think liberal democracy provides sufficient "recognition" to satisfy both rich and poor, master and slave. The discussion of the "last man" is particularly fascinating, for it shows Fukuyama's unwillingness to engage in the kind of cultural critique that Nietzsche was doing. Fukuyama's last man is both contented and noble, while Nietzsche's is...not. 

If one is to understand the mindset of the 90s, one ought to read this. Fukuyama's prose is clear and his argument is sharp (if a bit repetitive). The most dated part of the analysis is that of China - Fukuyama uses his framework to claim (with very weak hedges) that China will inevitably liberalize, which is, at best, half-true. Looking at the world nearly 40 years after he wrote it, one can safely say that the death of right-wing illiberalism or anti-liberalism was greatly overstated. History may be on the move again, and we may yet find new ways of seeking and deriving recognition that go beyond liberal democracy. 

Well worth the read.

Erhan Bilici

Siddharth Ramakrishnan

Keven Wang

Morgan Holland

Ramses Struijker Boudiee

Arno

Angelo Zinna

With the fall of Berlin Wall in 1989 the threat of the Cold War which had dominated the second half of the twentieth century vanished. And with it the West looked to the future with optimism but renewed uncertainty. The End of History and the Last Manwas the first book to offer a picture of what the new century would look like. Boldly outlining the challenges and problems to face modern liberal democracies, Frances Fukuyama examined what had just happened and then speculated what was going to come next. Tackling religious fundamentalism, politics, scientific progress, ethical codes and war, The End of History and the Last Manremains a compelling work to this day, provoking argument and debate among its readers. 'A fascinating historical and philosophical setting for the twenty-first century.' Tom Wolfe 'Captures the prevailing spirit of our times.' New Statesman 'A clever and important book teeming with original ideas.' Mail on Sunday 'Brilliantly argued and scholarly.' Daily Mail 'Clearly written, immensely ambitious.' New York Times Book Review

The End of History and the Last Man

Reviews