Doomscroll: Francis Fukuyama

Welcome to a very special episode of Doomscroll. My guest is Francis Fukuyama, a scholar and political scientist.

Francis Fukuyama is a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the Mosbacher Director of the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford University. He is a council member of the International Forum for Democratic Studies founded by the National Endowment for Democracy and was a member of the Political Science Department of the RAND Corporation. He is the chair of the editorial board for American Purpose.

Francis Fukuyama is the author of many books; State-Building (2004), The Origins of Political Order (2011), Liberalism and its Discontents (2022) and numerous others. He is most well known for his 1992 work, The End of History & the Last Man.

Drawing on Hegel and Marx, Fukuyama explores the concept of teleology — the idea that history is a linear process where human societies progress through sequential socioeconomic forms. As Marx famously wrote, Feudalism was replaced by Capitalism and would ultimately be replaced by Socialism. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, Francis Fukuyama argued that western liberal democracy was the final form of human government.

His thesis has been updated and revised many times since and remains a frequent subject of debate today. He is considered by many to be the most influential political scientist of the late 20th century:

Francis Fukuyama: History and Democracy | Doomscroll

This is an independent show — it’s made by literally me and a handful of artist friends. On today’s internet, there are really only two types of programs that succeed: “breaking news” and “politically incorrect comedy”. In this media environment, there is basically no space that we have to zoom out and seriously consider broad political and philosophical questions. Everything in this genre is backed by non-profits or NGOs that function as the propaganda outlet of oligarchs. Against the odds, we’re trying to build something different. If you appreciate this mission, can help us to continue.

My conversation with Francis Fukuyama continues behind the paywall:

Doomscroll: Francis Fukuyama II

Doomscroll: Hasan Piker II

Doomscroll: Catherine Liu 2 II

Doomscroll: Jen Pan II