Political Order

Political Order

Dr Francis Fukuyama

18 February 2014

5.00pm - 6.30pm

SMU Mochtar Riady Auditorium

Singapore

Political order rests on a delicate equilibrium involving three distinct sets of institutions. First, the state wields and concentrates power, shaping the course of governance. Second, the rule of law acts as a restraint, imposing limits on state authority through transparent regulations. Lastly, democratic accountability ensures that governments remain responsive to the broader community's needs.

Dr Francis Fukuyama shared his insights into these multifaceted issues. Drawing inspiration from his book "The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution", he gave an overview of the emergence of these three institutions across various regions, including China and the Western world. He delved into their historical development and discussed the far-reaching implications of their development on global politics.

  • The balance between the state, the rule of law, and democratic accountability is the foundation of a stable political order.
  • The historical development of these three institutions across different regions provides insight into the diverse paths of political order.
  • Understanding the historical trends of these institutions can inform present-day discussions on governance and democracy.

Speaker

Speaker
Dr Francis Fukuyama

Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI)
Stanford University

  • On the development of political order

    Political institutions don't just evolve and modernise and move in a single, forward, progressive direction. They can also go backwards.

    Political institutions don't just evolve and modernise and move in a single, forward, progressive direction. They can also go backwards.

    Dr Francis Fukuyama
    Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI)
    Stanford University

I think that political justice and the proper working of the state, in some sense, both normatively and as a practical matter, rest on the degree of balance that the political order achieves between those goals.

I think that political justice and the proper working of the state, in some sense, both normatively and as a practical matter, rest on the degree of balance that the political order achieves between those goals.
Dr Francis Fukuyama
Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI)
Stanford University

Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery