Frances Fukuyama is a moron . . .

In case you don't recall who this guy is: in 1992 Dr. Fukuyama wrote a best selling “non fiction” book called “The End of History”, which promoted the liberal/democracy view that the world was only going to get better and better. And that the democratic west had achieved peaceful co-existence with the worlds totalitarian regimes. Regimes which weren't (in his view) all that totalitarian, and should be allowed to oppress their people without criticism, in the interest of preventing supply chain disruptions and unpleasant rhetoric.

Fukuyama is (naturally) a college professor (at Stanford University) and has been a valued “thought leader” for left wing think tanks for 30 years. He also earned a gazillion dollars from his ridiculous book, and it's sequel “House of the Dragon – why China will conquer Westeros”. (Ful disclosure - I made this part up)

Fukuyama is a moron. Stanford University is a pox on our educational system for promoting his ridiculous views, which ignore the actual arc of human history. The democrat party is an unindicted co-conspirator in the deaths of millions living under totalitarian regimes.

How do we know Fukuyama is a moron?

IRAN – Secret Police have killed over 100 demonstrators who were protesting the death of a 22 year old girl, beaten to death by “morality police” for an improperly worn head scarf. The Ayatollah has urged them to step up the pace, and preserve his regime. Breaking news: the Iranian government has promised to kidnap and torture the relatives of Irans World Cup soccer team if they sing their national anthem off key again before today's kickoff. (this is true)

CHINA – Millions have taken to the streets, demanding an end to the Xi regime after 3 years of incomprehensible and ineffective covid lockdowns. Last week dozens of people burned to death in locked down apartment building and couldn't be rescued from their fate. China has been forced to temporarily put its rhetoric promising the imminent invasion of Taiwan on hold, while it suppresses its own population.

RUSSIA – today is day 327 of the "Ukrainian “Liberation”, and day 320 of predictions that Putin will be removed in a coup. Several oligarch yachts, include the missile carrying one owned Putin himself, remain unaccounted for on the high seas. Or European ports.

So who actually still agrees with Fukuyama and the left? Apparently Budweiser, Coca Cola, Visa, McDonalds, and the FIFA organization itself, which is profiting from “oppression world cup” in Qatar. You can't even get into the stadium if you have rainbow colored armbands or look jewish. We havent had an international sports event this ridiculous since the 1936 hitler olympics in Germany. Hitler invade Poland 2 years later, proving that the end of history wasn't at hand then, either.

Also, apparently Tesla and Apple, which welcomed Chinese thugs and goons to quell factory protests by struggling workers tired of lockdowns and going unpaid.

Apparently President Biden AND “leading republicans” who both agree that NATO will take zero action to enforce a no fly zone over Ukranian air space, or protect civilians there from artillery, rockets, drones, kidnapping, rape . . Hey, Poland – er, I mean Ukraine – you're on your own. Good luck!

This is indeed a turning point in world history. And our political leaders and corporate America have taken an unambiguous stand on the wrong side. In the interest of short term profits and mid term election victories. Which is all that actually matters, right?

A pox on all your houses. May history judge you harshly for your immorality.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

The End of History theory was enormously influential in the 1990s. I remember studying it at university. Some politicians may have taken it as bible truth, but in the world of academia it was used to stimulate healthy debate and critical discourse (qualities that are in short supply these days). Wasn't my cup of tea by any means, but his intellectual range was breathtaking.

Also, he was writing 30 years ago. People are allowed to reflect and change their views in the light of subsequent events. People are allowed to make honest intellectual mistakes in pursuit of knowledge. That essentially is what liberalism is all about.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@SunshineGirl Yeah, it's worth noting that in the 90s and early 00s, most politicians, political scientists, journalists and people did believe the 'end of the history narrative'. The Berlin Wall had just come down and it seemed that the era of wars and imperial competition had come to an end. Most political parties were operating within a fairly narrow consensus too. Not only were things not changing, there seemed to be no obvious way that things would change.

This is before Putin, the rise of China, the 2007/08 financial crash and the subsequent political polarisation. In hindsight, the Twin Towers coming down seemed to be the symbolic start of things shifting.

I never agreed with Fukuyama when I was at University but I was in a minority. Being a leftist at Univerity was then seen as old-hat! For most of the 'kids,' it was all about New Labour. Also, neoliberalism was so ideologically dominant back then that the end-of-history thesis went unquestioned by most people.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@Burnley123 For me it was the Balkans in the 1990s that showed that ethno-nationalism and religious conflict were still very real. I think people wanted to feel optimistic about the future and buried their heads in the sand for as long as they could.

The 2000s seem such a distant memory. Generally constructive and pragmatic politics. Not a lot to be optimistic or proud about since the Crash.

But we still have the minimum wage, peace in NI, and free museum entry to remember New Labour by 🙂