First published 2022
Francis Fukuyama tackles the crisis facing classical liberalism in contemporary politics. The political philosopher argues that the system developed after Europe's religious and nationalist conflicts now faces threats from multiple directions. Conservatives attack liberalism for draining shared life of purpose and meaning. Neoliberals have transformed economic freedom into an ideology. Progressives have shifted focus from universal human rights to identity-based politics. Fukuyama traces how liberalism historically failed to deliver on its promises of equality and rule of law, excluding women, African Americans, and LGBTQ+ individuals for generations. He shows how recent decades have seen liberal principles stretched beyond recognition by both political sides. This fracturing has weakened civil society and threatens democratic institutions. Fukuyama provides a compact analysis of current political troubles while making the case for renewing liberal principles for modern challenges.
Genres: american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, academic
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-commentary
Period: 21st-Century
185 pages · Kindle Edition · Farrar, Straus and Giroux