Political Order and Political Decay

From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy

By: Francis Fukuyama

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

The second volume of the best-selling landmark work on the history of the modern state. Writing in the Wall Street Journal, David Gress called Francis Fukuyama's Origins of Political Order "magisterial in its learning and admirably immodest in its ambition." In the New York Times Book Review, Michael Lind described the book as "a major achievement by one of the leading public intellectuals of our time." And in the Washington Post, Gerard DeGrott exclaimed "this is a book that will be remembered. Bring on volume two." Volume two is finally here, completing the most important work of political thought in at least a generation. Taking up the essential question of how societies develop strong, impersonal, and accountable political institutions, Fukuyama follows the story from the French Revolution to the so-called Arab Spring and the deep dysfunctions of contemporary American politics. He examines the effects of corruption on governance, and why some societies have been successful at rooting it out. He explores the different legacies of colonialism in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and offers a clear-eyed account of why some regions have thrived and developed more quickly than others. And he boldly reckons with the future of democracy in the face of a rising global middle class and entrenched political paralysis in the West. A sweeping, masterful account of the struggle to create a well-functioning modern state, Political Order and Political Decay is destined to be a classic.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2014 Francis Fukuyama (P)2014 Audible Inc.

An absolute blast!

One of the best listen I've had. Learnt so much. Fukuyama writes in a style that lends itself to being read aloud so that subject matter becomes totally accessible and easy to follow.

The best historical analysis I have ever heard.

There are chapters yet to go but this work has already earned five stars and I needed to say so right away!

This is the best historical analysis of any kind I have ever seen. Not that I agree with all of it. And from time to time there is a bit to much over thinking. However, this work provided many missing pieces to my understanding of long wave 'evolutionary' civilization. The author is especially helpful in contrasting colonialism in North America, South America and Africa. One sad conclussion I make is that the end products of various colonial enterprises were simply unavoidable. For instance, European diseases wiped out most of new world peoples the same way bubonic plague wiped out much of Europe time and again. Nothing could have been done about any of it.

Similarly, North and South America evolved as they did because South America was entirely founded by a plundering "Conqistador" civilization while North America was founded by hapless, largely clueless family groups; there were more women and children on the Mayflower then adult men and half the entire compliment died the first Winter. These people would not have taken down Montezuma.

The author's discussion of African colonialism was the most useful of all because I have studied it less. It's now clear to me the post colonial African detritus was as inevitable as small pox was in the new world. There is no purpose in self flagilation on this matter any more then to weap and wail over small pox 500 years after the fact.

Understanding the world...

This book allows the listener to better understand how nations transformed over time and why. Fukuyama’s 2 books should be required reading for all Poli Sci majors as it explains how nations developed politically and how different influential markers tell us why they act the way do, from authoritarianism to liberal democracies and everything in between.

Very Enlightening

This book really opened my eyes to the real underlying currents and issues that governments around the world face today. So many political commentaries today focus on the conflict between small and big government or the fight for equal rights. This takes a broader view and cuts through the partisan talking points and takes an empirical approach to analyzing what has led some countries to thrive and others to fall behind or decay. I will never look at politics the same again.

Outstanding

Fascinating book for anyone who cares about democracy and would like to be better informed about how democracies function and the challenges they face.

There are countless passages you will want to share :)