Francis Fukuyama’s “The End of History” Rebuttal

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main Text
Conclusion
References

Introduction

For the purpose of this essay, I have selected an article written by Francis Fukuyama, in 1989, called “The End of History” which gave rise to a lot of controversy over the decades (Marks, 2004). In this article, Fukuyama argued that the end of the cold war is no ordinary event, in fact, it is the end of history as we know it, and that mankind’s socio-cultural evolution is complete. He suggested that the supremacy of western ideals has been established; now the entire world would follow the same ideals of democracy and free-market system (Fukuyama, 1989).

Main Text

In saying this Fukuyama was in fact suggesting that liberal democracy is the most enlightened and economically successful form of government. His main argument is that the end of the Cold War confirms a worldwide consensus in favor of liberalism, including not just capitalism but liberal democracy as well. He views the fall of the Berlin wall, as the fall of all other ideologies specifically the dominant communist ideology. Thus for him, liberal democracy has emerged as the sole legitimate system of government, marking the triumph of the west; arguing the end of history.

However, an analysis of the recent history indicates otherwise, and there are several events that negate Fukuyama’s thesis. This essay argues that the end of the cold war and the consequent triumph of liberal western democracy and the free-market system have been argued to represent the endpoint of socio-cultural evolution. However, the accomplishments of china’s communist regime, the questionable state of the capitalist economic system, and the noteworthy events of the 21st century suggest otherwise (Held, 1993). The Utopian belief that the capitalist system is the only way to organize social life in the eternal pursuit of freedom, equality, and happiness has been put to test, Fukuyama’s thesis seems shaky than ever before and newspaper headlines prove that history is still in the making.

Poor economic situation of Greece, the increasingly worsening European crisis, the worldwide economic meltdown of 2008 emerging from a capitalist country and a free market economy, the return of the systemic critique of capitalism, The “Occupy Wall Street” movement, and its spread throughout the US. All of this points towards only one conclusion; history had never ended.

What is being challenged today is not just the liberal capitalist system, but rather the utopian belief that this is the only way of organizing a human society in the perpetual quest for freedom, equality, and happiness (Calvo & Mandoza, 2000).

Today, Fukuyama’s article makes one think if it is really the best we can do? With the financial institutions failing, states going bankrupt, and the world going into a double-dip recession, the ideals proposed by Fukuyama seem less promising than ever.

While analyzing Fukuyama’s argument what also needs to be realized is that the world, in general, has modernized in terms of technology, access to media, more form of communication that has made led to increasing accountability and some form of liberty. But modernization doesn’t necessarily mean westernization.

Conclusion

I believe that Fukuyama was mistaken in his belief because according to me, the end of the cold war was not the end of history for man. And humans have certainly not completed their socio-cultural evolution yet, because the present state of the world does not look so ideal.

References

Calvo, G., & Mandoza, G. (2000). Capital-Market Crisis and Economic Collapse in Emerging Markets: An Informational-Frictions Approach. American Economic Association, 33(5), 59-64.

Fukuyama, F. (1989). The End of History. The National Interest , 22(9), 122-139.

Held, D. (1993). “Liberalism, Marxism, and Democracy. Theory and Society, 13(2), 249-281.

Marks, S. (2004). The End of History? Reflections on some International Legal Thesis. European Journal of International Law, 26(19), 136-155.

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Francis Fukuyama’s “The End of History” Rebuttal

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