Represents the End of History
In his article titled “The End of History”, the author, Francis Fukuyama (UAF, 2013, p.1) seeks to prove that the liberal democracy that Western Nations advocate for sounds the death knell for sound and divergent political ideology that forms the world history. Subsequently, Fukayama (UAF, 2013, p.2) argues that the net effect of the advent of the Western liberalism ideology will result in the “end of history”. Tharoor (2012) describes Fukuyama as a “distinguished political philosopher and intellectual”.
In his argument, Fukayama (p.2) seeks to cement the fact that Western ideology has seen systematic acceptance and success in many nations, even in nations that previously seemed opposed to any form of Western ideology such as Tehran. Fukayama foresees a situation where Western liberalism will become a global norm especially because it has captured the imagination of many people in the world (p.2). Tharoor (2012) gives the example of the fall of the Berlin wall, pro-democracy protests in staunch authoritarian nations such as the soviet bloc, and so on. These people will in future vote to entrench liberal democracy within there nations in future. He explains that this process may take decades, even a century but finally it will become a reality. This acceptance and success means that liberal democracy may swallow up the many divergent political opinions stemming from diverse cultures and political environments within different nations. He seems to suggest that people will cease to be politically creative as they embrace one universal doctrine of liberal democracy.
The beautiful and intriguing world history is the result of divergent political opinion. The making of many different dynasties, many tribal, national and regional wars, are the result of groupings of people who share some ideologies coming together to promote their belief or cause. The uniqueness of many nations lies in their diversity both within and without. Divergent political opinion is the core aspect of diversity. Again, political systems control the economic world. If liberal democracy was to become the global yardstick for the ideal nation, then equally economic liberalism would ensue. Fukayama (p.3) seems to borrow this economic concept from Karl Max who emphasized that economic interests are the drivers of political destinies. On the same note, economic liberalism would definitely influence political patronage, thus giving some credence to Karl Max theory. Tharoor (2012) explains that history results from a metamorphosis of events. In explaining Fukuyama’s stand, Tharoor (2012) states the metamorphosis ends with the birth of capitalism, a system entrenched by economic liberalism. According to Tharoor (2012), Fukuyama envisaged the final product as a globalised system, comprising of interlinked systems, built on democracy and trade. Such a system Fukuyama argues that such a system would not have been sustainable, and that it would finally collapse as it would face huge threats from within. The worst threat is the phenomenal growth in technology, a good thing, but one which human beings have no way of controlling. The same might spiral into an insurmountable destructive tide in the future.
Fukuyama argues that if this political diversity wears off as a result of entrenching liberal democracy as the only credible and acceptable political system, we may witness the end of history, not because events will cease to happen, but because there may be nothing more worth documenting as all nations embrace the same political and economic destiny. This diversity breeds change, especially positive change, as divergent ideas find a common platform. In this diversity, political systems, economic systems, and social systems experience positive change. This positive change leads to more positive change, and therefore a nation and consequently the world, continually becomes a better place. With liberal democracy, this socio-cultural evolution becomes diminished and that is what would constitute the “end of history” because history is an evolutionary process. Worse, still, Fukuyama argues that with liberal democracy becoming the global ideal, there wont be an alternative in future to transit into another system should it fail.
References
Fukayama, F. (1989). The End of History? The National Interest. Retrieved December 7,2013, from http://ps321.community.uaf.edu/files/2012/10/Fukuyama-End-of-history-article.pdf
Tharoor, I. (2012, February 8). Fukuyama’s “Future of History”. Time Magazine. Retrieved December 8, 2013, from http://world.time.com/2012/02/08/fukuyamas-future-of-history- is-liberal-democracy-doomed/
