Francis Fukuyama, political economist: America’s Putin-esque direction
The Interview7 Sep 2025

Francis Fukuyama, political economist: America’s Putin-esque direction

Paddy O’Connell speaks to Professor Francis Fukuyama about the threats to liberal democracies around the world. The American political economist and international relations scholar, who is currently a senior fellow at Stanford University, has written widely on issues about development and international politics.

He is best-known for his 1992 book ‘The End of History and the Last Man’. He argued that the end of the Cold War, marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, represented the end point of mankind’s ideological evolution, and the universalisation of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.

But three decades on, Western liberal democracy appears to be struggling to adapt to the many challenges of the 21st century. Amid geopolitical instability, its future does not appear as universal as Fukuyama once proposed, even in the US. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Paddy O’Connell Producer: Ben Cooper Editor: Nick Holland

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Professor Francis Fukuyama. Photo by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)

Episoder(1905)

Nana Akufo-Addo - Ghanaian presidential candidate

Nana Akufo-Addo - Ghanaian presidential candidate

Ghana has been hailed as a shining example to all of Africa - a model of democracy, decent governance and responsible economic management in a continent struggling to fulfil its potential. But if Ghan...

5 Mar 201223min

Egemen Bagis - Turkey's Chief EU Negotiator

Egemen Bagis - Turkey's Chief EU Negotiator

Turkey is a rising power in a strategically vital region, but does it have the ability to shape events beyond its borders? Officials in Ankara would like to see Turkey inside the EU and providing lead...

2 Mar 201223min

David Miliband - UK Foreign Secretary 2007-2010

David Miliband - UK Foreign Secretary 2007-2010

Politics can be a cruel business. No one knows that better than Britain's former foreign secretary David Miliband. He was hot favourite to lead the UK's Labour party after its dismal 2010 election def...

29 Feb 201223min

Georges Chikoti - Angolan Foreign Minister

Georges Chikoti - Angolan Foreign Minister

The 10th anniversary of the end of Angola's devastating post-independence civil war is being marked in 2012. What a difference a decade makes. Angola is now one of Africa's powerhouse economies, enjoy...

27 Feb 201223min

Yoweri Museveni - President of Uganda

Yoweri Museveni - President of Uganda

Stephen Sackur speaks to the president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, currently on a visit to London. He took power in Kampala at the head of a rebel army in 1986 and has delivered stability and economic...

24 Feb 201223min

Eugenia Tymoshenko - Daughter of Yulia Tymoshenko

Eugenia Tymoshenko - Daughter of Yulia Tymoshenko

This summer Ukraine is co-hosting the European football championships, but don't be deceived by the sporting camaraderie - Ukraine's political relationship with the EU is in crisis. The most pressing ...

22 Feb 201223min

Fawzia Koofi

Fawzia Koofi

Some politicians claim that they would be willing to die for their beliefs. Fawzia Koofi is an Afghan politician who says that she expects to be killed."I am resigned to this fate", she says.She is cu...

20 Feb 201223min

Sir Clive Woodward - Director of Sport, British Olympic Association

Sir Clive Woodward - Director of Sport, British Olympic Association

What's the key to world class sporting performance?Top coaches will tell you the biggest prizes don't necessarily go to the best natural athletes, but to those best prepared. Science, technology and p...

17 Feb 201223min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
forklart
stopp-verden
popradet
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
fotballpodden-2
rss-gukild-johaug
det-store-bildet
dine-penger-pengeradet
nokon-ma-ga
hanna-de-heldige
rss-ness
aftenbla-bla
e24-podden
rss-utenrikskomiteen-med-bogen-og-grasvik
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
frokostshowet-pa-p5