The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution

By: Francis Fukuyama

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 22 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Virtually all human societies were once organized tribally, yet over time most developed new political institutions that included a central state that could keep the peace and uniform laws that applied to all citizens. Some went on to create governments that were accountable to their constituents. We take these institutions for granted, but they are absent or unable to function in many of today’s developing countries—with often disastrous consequences for the rest of the world.

Francis Fukuyama, author of the best-selling The End of History and The Last Man, and one of our most important political thinkers, provides a sweeping account of how today’s basic political institutions developed.

The first of a major two-volume work, The Origins of Political Order begins with politics among our primate ancestors and follows the story through the emergence of tribal societies, the growth of the first modern state in China, the beginning of the rule of law in India and the Middle East, and the development of political accountability in Europe up until the eve of the French Revolution.

Drawing on a vast body of knowledge—history, evolutionary biology, archaeology, and economics—Fukuyama has produced a brilliant, provocative work that offers fresh insights on the origins of democratic societies and raises essential questions about the nature of politics and its discontents.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2011 Francis Fukuyama (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Fukuyama writes a crystalline prose that balances engaging erudition with incisive analysis. As germane to the turmoil in Afghanistan as it is to today's congressional battles, this is that rare work of history with up-to-the-minute relevance." ( Publishers Weekly)

“Political theorist Francis Fukuyama’s new book is a major accomplishment, likely to find its place among the works of seminal thinkers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Locke, and modern moral philosophers and economists such as John Rawls and Amartya Sen . . .It is a perspective and a voice that can supply a thinker’s tonic for our current political maladies.” (Earl Pike, The Cleveland Plain Dealer)

“Ambitious and highly readable.” ( The New Yorker)

Few forests, but lots of trees

When I taught at university level, I quickly discovered how few academics knew how to explain anything concisely. They are asked a question, or the state a goal for their discussion, and proceed to give an answer that may technically be correct, but is not very helpful to the listener.

This the exact sort of feel I got from this book. Fukuyama promises a book about the origins of political structures in general, but instead presents us a book loaded with extraneous (albeit probably accurate) details, so much so that any sort of generalization that he wants to draw attention to get lost in the trees. After some preliminary information about biology and prehistory (which is written well), the author launches into an hours-long description of China, including many, *many* details about the country, its people, and its history, and the evolution of its government. Great if I wanted to know all about China and its governmental history, but not so good if I am looking for something more succinct and generalizeable. If Fukuyama tried drawing any sort of general principle out of this whole discussion, I missed it, buried among tons of details. Where's the focus?

The author then continues this pattern with India and then the Ottoman Empire, heaping on the detail while obfuscating his main points.

I did find some of the detail very interesting, I'll admit, and he does a pretty good job at presenting some of the topics. For example, his discussion of slave armies is very good indeed, as is his discussion of religion on the Indian subcontinent and how it affected the formation of some parts of government.

But in the end, I got tired of slogging through all the unfocused detail, which in the end led me to stop listening about 75% of the way through.

other books offer the same info, only better

This book was just ok for me. There are other books and lecture series that focus on the same subject matter but are far more engaging.

Difficult but rewarding book

What did you love best about The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution?

The breadth of states covered. I like that Fukuyama took a world view and introduced the reader to states that many American readers might not know much about (that is, non-western states). The scope of the examination let the reader see the various ways that states can and do develop and allowed for a fuller discussion of the subject matter.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I think he did a solid job narrating this book. I enjoy his work more in the fictional universe (more room for performance), but his tone and pace were appropriate for a serious, non-fiction work.

Any additional comments?

A really fascinating and detailed political history, comparing various states and discussing the environments that gave rise to them (cultural, religious, geographic, etc.). The book was not an "easy" read and it took a while to get through. But there is a lot of food for thought here and the author is very reasonable and clear in putting forth his ideas and inviting the reader to evaluate the information. I come away with a fuller understanding of various political apparatus. I also leave with a sharper vantage point on the US system and why it is so difficult (if not impossible) to export our way of doing things elsewhere, especially when we do not understand how our own system came into being and what preconditions are necessary for various aspects of it to take root and thrive. In the end, it makes one realize that there are a number of different permutations a stable state can take, even though their foundations (rule of law, a strong central state, and accountability) are likely the same. It is also interesting to realize that all states are built up on the remains of what came before, without a truly "clean sweep" of the past. Meaning when state building, you have to consider what came before and build accordingly. I look forward to (eventually) tackling the second volume (which will bring political history to the present day, and look at what causes the decay of political systems).

Interesting, but more of a textbook than an audiobook

This book is the kind of thing where in order to get the full value out of it, you probably need to follow along with a text you can mark up and take notes. It’s more of a textbook than a history lecture. The writing feels old school and doesn’t do a good job of estabilishing fundamental language or principals. I recommend you get this only if you’re really looking to put the work in on it and get the value. It’s dense, but packed with good information and specific examples of its hypothesis. Overall, good, but not great at all.

great ideas bogged down by details

interesting overarching history or the state but goes into the weeds of every political upheaval

The Growth and Development of Human Governments

In this panoramic survey Francis Fukuyama achieved both an analysis and a synthesis of the origins of government around the world. He shows how the advent of a strong central government was essential to the development of liberty and freedom, as well as economic prosperity.

His work is a strong complement to that of Jared Diamond's book Guns, Germs, and Steel.

Fukuyama built a strong body of work showing that the order in which a country developed a rule of law and commenced state building determined the type of government that developed.

There is so much more to learn in this remarkably in-depth study of the world and our political systems. I can't recommend it high enough.

Amazing book!!!

I always dislike and avoid politics themes, firstable because I always consider it dirty and second because what I see, and how politics enrich themselves with people money. But I always hear people talking about corruption, and I see the struggle of the people and inside of me is growing a desire to learn a little about political science, reason why I purchased this amazing book by Francis..I really liked the book and will soon buy the second book by this author. I must say that I really enjoyed it and hopefully this book be the bridge that will take me to master the subject. I will also recommend this book to some of my friends that love to talk about politics. One of the things which I like the most about this book is the connection which exists among the state and the people to make democracy work...that last chapter and the book itself I will read again in the future to better understand it...thanks for posting this book.

Brilliant piece of scholarship

This work adds to human knowledge in a way that will be remembered. A fantastic listen full of insights.

Fascinating View From a Former Bush Administration Policy Maker

This volume (only the first!) explores the development of the political order of the various center nations of the world's status quo. It is a brilliant analysis, read exceedingly well. I am very, very pleased with this selection. Top notch!

Too academic

Great on content, little on context. It was too academic with very little thought stimulation. Felt more like a long, drawn out encyclopedia article. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re in for a treat.