A centralized authority with a legitimate monopoly on violence, capable of enforcing laws and collecting taxes. China is cited as the first society to develop a truly modern, impersonal state.
Mechanisms, such as parliaments or elections, that ensure the state serves the interests of the whole community rather than just its rulers. Key Themes and Arguments The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman T...
Fukuyama posits that humans are naturally social beings programmed for kin selection (favoring family) and reciprocal altruism (favoring friends). The greatest challenge in political development is overcoming these tribal instincts to create impersonal institutions. A centralized authority with a legitimate monopoly on
Fukuyama argues that a stable modern liberal democracy requires a delicate balance of three distinct institutions: Key Themes and Arguments Fukuyama posits that humans
A set of rules that are superior to the state itself, binding the sovereign to the same laws as the citizens. This often emerged from religious traditions, such as Brahmanism in India or Catholicism in Europe.
Critics have largely praised the work as a "magisterial" and "audacious" achievement.