Liberal Democracy and Francis Fukuyama

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Francis Fukuyama argued that liberal democracy was deemed to be the final viable form for political institutions. This implies that liberal democracy will become the last form of regime for states. Fukuyama’s argument was reasonable at the time he created it because it was created after the cold war and the power state was The United States, and they implemented democracy to states surrounding them and states that were influenced by the U.S. However, during the 1990’s there started to become more authoritarian type regimes arising. I argue that Fukuyama was wrong that democracy would not be the final viable form for political institutions. A way that states will be able to survive democracy is because states and incumbents want power, and will gain this be any means. Another reason is because states have been able to implement capitalist or competitive authoritarianism. Lastly authoritarian regimes are able to survive because democratic states are depending on these authoritarian states for trade, so both democratic and authoritarian regimes are benefiting from this.
Totalitarianism and democracy were the two extremes before The Cold War and during The Cold War. Juan J. Linz and Alfred Stepan (pg. 267) argue that there use two “poles” and they were totalitarianism and democracy. However, this is still the case states are still able to become totalitarian regimes, but states do not see that as a viable option for the way the world’s states depend on international trade and how ideology breaks down a government. In a totalitarian regime the borders are closed and states do not trade with each other. Because totalitarianism has dismissed states that had totalitarianism regimes had to find a new form of regime because of The Cold War...

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...ontrol much of the economy authoritarian regimes are able grow quickly. However, this applies to large states not small or medium size states that are more likely to collapse (Schmitter and Karl pg. 543). Authoritarian regimes are able to survive if they are large states because they are able to benefit by trading, resources and have a large population size so their economy is able to grow.
Authoritarian regimes are able to survive by being able to implement more democratic like ideals in their government. However, states are able to manipulate these ideals to act like they are leaning towards a democracy when there is a vast amount of corruption happening. Although Fukuyama states that democracy is the final form of regime for states, it will not happen if states and their incumbents want power and will obtain power by any means such as violence and corruption.

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