Origins of Political Order

* Book: The Origins of Political Order (2011), Francis Fukuyama.

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Nina Witoszek:

"In the acclaimed study, The Origins of Political Order (2011), Francis Fukuyama describes the project of building an exemplary social democracy—with a generous welfare state, individual rights, and the rule of law—in terms of “getting to Denmark” (sensu Prichett and Woodcock). For people living in genocidal or troubled parts of the world, Demark has become a mythical place symbolizing democracy, peace, and stability. “Everyone would like to figure out how to transform Somalia, Haiti, Nigeria, Iraq, or Afghanistan into ‘Denmark,’” Fukyama writes—and sets out to answer exactly that very question. He has two conclusions: 1) there is not one route, but many ways of “getting to Denmark,” and 2) studying these routes is a tricky business because it has to include historical accidents and contingent circumstances that cannot be duplicated elsewhere."

(https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6xw505xh)

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• Together. Richard Sennett.