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Binoy Kampmark, "The end of history delayed? Fukuyama's End of History Thesis and September 11" With the publication of "The End of History?" in The National Interest in 1989, Francis Fukuyama suggested that liberal-capitalism had triumphed as the only serious option in ideological contests, ending "coherent, evolutionary" history. How applicable is his interpretation to such historical events such as September 11? This paper critiques the "end of history" thesis in light of September 11, though examples will be drawn where relevant on other historical "events" (Rwanda, Yugoslavia). It does not accept the ease with which Fukuyama explains September 11 as a "fascist" aberration in the stream of democratic finality. Three key weaknesses (amongst others) are suggested: the ambiguous nature of social recognition (thymos); the absence of a foreign policy analysis in Fukuyama's thesis that "ends" history as against better analyses offered by Samuel Huntington and Chalmers Johnson; and the potential reversal of modernity in considering history as having an "end"--this being the main argument made by Karl Popper in the Open Society. Biography:Born in Malaysia. Danish citizen. Graduate in law and arts majoring in modern history at the University of Queensland. Research interests include American foreign policy, European intellectual history and Australian immigration policy. Currently undertaking a doctoral study analysing American responses to atrocity from World War I to the September 11, 2001 attacks under Dr. Neal Rosendorf, lecturer in global issues at the History Department. |
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