Post 1990s: The End of History

Question 1

Fukuyama - Liberalism is now the dominant ideology - yes

Answer 1

• The number of states which are liberal democracies have risen from 35 (1974) to 120 (2012).
• Lib Dems account for 60% of world states, proving its the best conditions for liberal democracies to improve - despite being imperfect.
• Former communist states, Russia and China have adopted some capitalistic aspects (China isn’t a LD but it subscribes internationally to free market principles).
• Since communism was abolished, after the collapse of the USSR 1991, former Soviet states have enthusiastically adopted LD and liberal economies.
• World Economy has quadrupled since the late 1990s - evidence that capitalism delivers benefits to the global economy.
• Fundamental Islam is limited to non-state actors (Al Qaeda), so no state has adopted this extremist ideology as a main form of government.

Question 2

Liberalism is now the dominant ideology - no, exaggerated claim

Answer 2

• The world’s second largest economy, China, is an authoritarian state (not LD). Its’ increasing power has challenged the democratic and capitalist USA.
• Radical Islam has emerged as an ideological challenger to the West/ secular govt in Middle-East and Africa.
• Arab Uprisings - didn’t result in a democracy, except Tunisia and possibly went backwards (Egypt - military rule).
• Communist parties remain in power in single party states (China, Cuba, Laos and Vietnam).
• Many democratic states have significant weaknesses - India has been democratic since 1947, but 1/3 of the candidates elected in 2014 has criminal indictments against them).
• Russia’s elections aren’t free or fair = authoritarian despite moving to LD/capitalism - with little govt scrutiny and accountability.
• Fragile democracies that are under threat = military coups in Turkey (2014) and Thailand (2006).
• Capitalism creates wide inequality - 2008 global financial crisis is a failure of the capitalist model - increase in elections of left-wing govt to reform capitalism.

Question 3

Huntingdon - There is a clash of civilisations

Answer 3

• Although internally divided, the Islamic World represents an increasing threat to the West from multiple states. There is evidence of a clash of civiisations by the attacks on iconic symbols of Western powers and values (US Trade Centre).
• Although internally divided, the Islamic World represents an increasing threat to the West from multiple states.
• Global terrorism has increased to challenge Western values: the Al-Shabaab (Somalia), Boko Haram (Nigeria) and the so-called Islamic State (Iraq/Syria) emerged. For example, the literial translation of Boko Haram is ‘Western education is forbidden’.
• The rise of China and its potential to overtake the US as the world’s largest economy represents a stunning increase in the Sinic civilisation’s power - unsure if its rise will be peaceful or not.

Question 4

Huntingdon - no, exaggerated claim

Answer 4

• Not accurate to say that all of Islam is in conflict with Western values, as the large Muslim populations in non-Muslin states testify to greater diversity and cohesiveness.
• Little evidence of unity in the many identified civilisations - Islamic State is divided regarding policy responses to the outside world and to the West. For example, Iran’s distanced itself from USA/Saudi Arabia is a close ally of the US.
• For example, Islam is divided into Sunni and Shia sects - reflected in the Syrian Civil War with Shia (Iran) and Sunni (Saudi).
• Most identified civilisations show little interest in a clash with the West - India, Japan and Little America are all deeply interdependent on the West, so it doesn’t benefit them.

Question 5

What type of thinker is Huntington?

Answer 5

Realist

Question 6

What type of thinker is Fukuyama?

Answer 6

Liberal