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)

Avsnitt(1872)

Azar Nafisi, author: Iranians are fighting for their freedom

Azar Nafisi, author: Iranians are fighting for their freedom

'What the regime does to women is even if they don't kill us, when you stop a woman from being herself, stop her from speaking the way she wants to or stop her from connecting, it’s a kind of murder. ...

11 Feb 23min

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, South African health minister: The fight against HIV/AIDS continues.

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, South African health minister: The fight against HIV/AIDS continues.

“Even though we say we want to be self-sufficient, we don't think global solidarity must be dropped. Because if it gets dropped, the world will be in trouble.”Mayeni Jones the BBC’s Africa corresponde...

9 Feb 23min

Henrique Capriles, Venezuelan opposition leader: What comes next for Venezuela?

Henrique Capriles, Venezuelan opposition leader: What comes next for Venezuela?

“Most Venezuelans are thinking about the future: Will things improve? Will deep changes come? Will we reunite as a people with our history, dreams, and hopes?”BBC correspondent Norberto Paredes speaks...

6 Feb 23min

Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner: Keep kids away from social media until they are ready

Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner: Keep kids away from social media until they are ready

Katy Watson speaks to Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner about the country’s social media ban for under 16s: “To keep kids away until they're ready, I think that is the monumental cir...

4 Feb 23min

Hind Kabawat, Syrian Minister: It is hard to be the only woman, I feel lonely

Hind Kabawat, Syrian Minister: It is hard to be the only woman, I feel lonely

'It's hard to be the only woman, I feel lonely sometimes because I’d like to have another woman colleague to talk to.’The BBC’s Chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet speaks to Hind Kabawat, S...

2 Feb 23min

Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv: We're fighting to survive

Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv: We're fighting to survive

‘We're fighting to survive in our home town, in our country, and at the same time we're fighting for our future, for our independence’Nick Robinson speaks to Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv, about Ukr...

30 Jan 23min

Helen Thompson, professor of political economy: A new era of global power politics

Helen Thompson, professor of political economy: A new era of global power politics

“Regardless of whether it's Trump or anybody else in the White House, we should expect something quite significant to be going on in terms of the United States’ relationship with the rest of the world...

28 Jan 22min

Nicholas Opiyo, human rights lawyer: Ugandans want change

Nicholas Opiyo, human rights lawyer: Ugandans want change

‘All they have seen is a 40-year rule that has resulted in high unemployment rates, poor services, and an increased violation of human rights. This young population is yearning to see a different pres...

26 Jan 23min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

aftonbladet-krim
motiv
rss-krimstad
p3-krim
blenda-2
rss-viva-fotboll
flashback-forever
spar
svenska-fall
rss-sanning-konsekvens
aftonbladet-daily
fordomspodden
rss-krimreportrarna
svd-dokumentara-berattelser-2
rss-vad-fan-hande
rss-frandfors-horna
rss-flodet
olyckan-inifran
svd-ledarredaktionen
krimmagasinet