home
introduction to comparative politics industrialized democracies communist & post-communist states developing world islamic countries globalization in comparative politics  
   
         
 
 
  infotrac reader
  infotrac activities
 
  weblinks
   
   
global resources
companion sites
comparative politics main texts
comparative politics resources
constitutions of the world
thinking globally, acting locally
current events quiz
in the news
updates: the war on terror
election 2004
credits
site map
 
Print
 
If you'd like to print out this page, click the Print button above. Alternatively, you may click the printer icon on your browser's toolbar, or choose File>Print from the menu.
 
 
The End of History, or the Clash of Civilizations?

"Has History Started Again?" by Francis Fukuyama

"The Future of 'History'" by Stanley Kurtz

Renowned analyst Francis Fukuyama has argued that we have reached an "end of history," one in which liberal democracy and regulated capitalism is, and will remain, the global norm. Samuel Huntington has postulated that there will be a coming "clash of civilizations," that we have not yet reached the end of history. The two articles here examine and analyze the debate in the post 9-11 world.


1. What are Fukuyama’s main points in his "end of history" thesis? Does he truly think there is an actual "end" to history?




2. What are the main components of Huntington’s "clash of civilizations" thesis?




3. How does Huntington view the spread of democracy to traditionally nondemocratic states? How does he predict it will affect the United States?




4. How do the two articles view the "end of history" and the "clash of civilizations" in terms of the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks? Which presents the best arguments? Why?