Fukuyama & Mearsheimer Notes
Francis Fukuyama – End of History
rise and fall of major ideologies – communism and fascism human history should be viewed in terms of a battle of ideologies which has reached its end in the universalization of Western liberal democracy the idea of western liberalism triumphs as more countries are moving towards liberal and democratic reforms
Hegel saw the French Revolution in 1806 as the event that signalled the triumph of the liberal and democratic system
Hegel believed that history culminated in an absolute moment - a moment in which a final, rational form of society and state became victorious
Hegel described these ideas as “ideology”, encompassing not just political doctrines, but the religion, culture and moral values of society as well.
To consider economic success in Asia as evidence of free market viability without considering societal aspects of work ethic, frugality and other moral qualities is to ignore the part ideology plays in all current world events economic liberalism does not produce liberal politics itself, or vice versa, but that both of them are the result of a previous consciousness.
Argument for fascism failed after WW2
Support for communism in the west particularly has declined as society has gained structure the root causes of economic inequality are not because of legal and social structure of our society but with the cultural and social characteristics of the groups that make it up, which are the historical legacy of premodern conditions black poverty in the United States is not the inherent product of liberalism, but is rather the "legacy of slavery and racism" which persisted long after the ending of slavery
Very few still believe in communism - Fukuyama expects this will result in a mounting pressure for change as alternatives to Western liberalism are exhausted.
Russia and China are not likely to join the developed nations of the West as liberal societies any time in the foreseeable future
Soviet Union is at a
rise and fall of major ideologies – communism and fascism human history should be viewed in terms of a battle of ideologies which has reached its end in the universalization of Western liberal democracy the idea of western liberalism triumphs as more countries are moving towards liberal and democratic reforms
Hegel saw the French Revolution in 1806 as the event that signalled the triumph of the liberal and democratic system
Hegel believed that history culminated in an absolute moment - a moment in which a final, rational form of society and state became victorious
Hegel described these ideas as “ideology”, encompassing not just political doctrines, but the religion, culture and moral values of society as well.
To consider economic success in Asia as evidence of free market viability without considering societal aspects of work ethic, frugality and other moral qualities is to ignore the part ideology plays in all current world events economic liberalism does not produce liberal politics itself, or vice versa, but that both of them are the result of a previous consciousness.
Argument for fascism failed after WW2
Support for communism in the west particularly has declined as society has gained structure the root causes of economic inequality are not because of legal and social structure of our society but with the cultural and social characteristics of the groups that make it up, which are the historical legacy of premodern conditions black poverty in the United States is not the inherent product of liberalism, but is rather the "legacy of slavery and racism" which persisted long after the ending of slavery
Very few still believe in communism - Fukuyama expects this will result in a mounting pressure for change as alternatives to Western liberalism are exhausted.
Russia and China are not likely to join the developed nations of the West as liberal societies any time in the foreseeable future
Soviet Union is at a