My Thoughts on The Emerging Geopolitical Order
Listen to a new episode of the Frankly Fukuyama podcast!
Last week, I sat down with my colleague and friend Frank Fukuyama to discuss Russia, whether there is a new Cold War between the United States and China, and why teaching should empower students to become actual policy implementers rather than merely technocrats. We also briefly talked about my forthcoming book Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder!
You can watch the full conversation below. You can find all episodes of the Frankly Fukuyama podcast here.
Podcast production by Ringo Harrison and Leonora Barclay.
Francis Fukuyama is Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), and a faculty member of FSI's Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL). He is also Director of Stanford's Ford Dorsey Master’s in International Policy Program, and a professor (by courtesy) of Political Science.
Dr. Fukuyama has written widely on issues in development and international politics. His 1992 book, The End of History and the Last Man, has appeared in over twenty foreign editions. His most recent book, Liberalism and Its Discontents, was published in the spring of 2022.
The conversation mainly focused on four major issues:
1. Introduction to the theme of the author's new book: Reflecting on the Cold War’s gains and losses to weigh the current state of U.S.-China-Russia relations. Considering past mistakes like the Vietnam War and McCarthyism, the author could only describe today’s dynamics as “between.” When discussing concerns about the Trump administration’s regression into unilateralism, the author had two brilliant remarks: “aspiring to shift it” and “not thinking about values.” Haha.
2. Given the deep economic entanglement between China and the U.S., Fukuyama was more concerned about their future relationship. The author pointed out differences in ideology and conceptions of the global order. Economically, “to completely decouple would be bad for the American economy”; “we are just pulling back” is particularly thought-provoking.
3. Although Russia ranks third in power compared to China and the U.S., Putin’s highly personalized leadership has led to disastrous consequences in the era of globalization. Much more interesting, the author put “he is more revisionist than Xi Jinping.” and “more ideologically inclined to propagate those ideas abroad”, also, Hooligan and Belligerent.
4. Fukuyama invited the author to introduce his research institute, which was quite refreshing. Its high degree of internationalization and its involvement in making policies impact a better world are central to its mission and significance.
Many thanks to the author for the concise and insightful presentation, and to the world-renowned Mr.Fukuyama for the thoughtfully designed questions.
Keeping perspective in this ideologically fraught environment is difficult. Listening to both McFaul and Fukuyama helps a lot. Thank you for this! More, please!