The Origins of Political Order

The first of a major two-volume work, The Origins of Political Order begins with politics among our primate ancestors and follows the story through the emergence of tribal societies, the growth of the first modern state in China, the beginning of the rule of law in India and the Middle East, and the development of political accountability in Europe up until the eve of the French Revolution.

Drawing on a vast body of knowledge-history, evolutionary biology, archaeology, and economics-Fukuyama has produced a brilliant, provocative work that offers fresh insights on the origins of democratic societies and raises essential questions about the nature of politics and its discontents.

The Origins of Political Order is a magisterial study on the emergence of mankind as a political animal, by one of the most eminent political thinkers writing today.

Fukuyama remains as prominent as ever FT
Elegant, honest, persuasive ... he attacks his former academic allies and friends ... with a relentless and awesome force Glasgow Herald
It should be read by every democrat - and every dictator. -- Dominic Lawson Sunday Times
Thoroughly worthwhile ... [the book] will give many thoughtful people a sensible path forward Spectator
This is that rare work of history with up-to-the-minute relevance Publishers Weekly (starred review)
No longer the neocon of former days, Fukuyama seems a more flexible and discerning thinker, and as always, his mastery of the literature is daunting. This exceptional book should be in every library Library Journal
Sweeping, provocative big-picture study of humankind's political impulses ... Endlessly interesting - reminiscent at turns of Oswald Spengler, Stanislaw Andreski and Samuel Huntington, though less pessimistic and much better written Kirkus Reviews (starred)
Societies that learn from mistakes rather than punish them have an inherent resilience...It is confirmed by this ambitious work. -- Oliver Kamm The Times

Francis Fukuyama is the author of The End of History, The Great Disruption, Our Posthuman Future, State Building and After the Neocons. All have been international bestsellers, translated and published in many languages. They have also been hugely influential. Fukuyama is in constant demand around the world in the media and as a speaker. He is Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford.

Virtually all human societies were once organised tribally, yet over time most developed new political institutions which included a central state that could keep the peace, and uniform laws that applied to all citizens. We take these institutions for granted, but they are absent or are unable to perform in many of today's developing countries - with often disastrous consequences for the rest of the world. In The Origins of Political Order, Francis Fukuyama provides a sweeping account of how today's basic political institutions developed. He begins with politics among our primate ancestors and follows the story through the emergence of tribal societies, the growth of the first modern state in China, the beginning of a rule of law in India and the Middle East, and the development of political accountability in Europe up until the eve of the French Revolution.Spanning history, evolutionary biology, archaeology, and economics, Fukuyama offers fresh insights on the origins of democratic societies.'It should be read by every democrat - and every dictator'Dominic LawsonSunday Times 'Books on political theory are not often page-turners; this one is'Economist 'An astonishing achievement...the canvas is vast, and the ambition prodigious'David MarquandNew Statesman

Francis Fukuyama, author of the bestselling The End of History and the Last Man and one of our most important political thinkers, provides a sweeping account of how today's basic political institutions developed. The first of a major two-volume work, The Origins of Political Order begins with politics among our primate ancestors and follows the story through the emergence of tribal societies, the growth of the first modern state in China, the beginning of the rule of law in India and the Middle East, and the development of political accountability in Europe up until the eve of the French Revolution. Drawing on a vast body of knowledge-history, evolutionary biology, archaeology, and economics-Fukuyama has produced a brilliant, provocative work that offers fresh insights on the origins of democratic societies and raises essential questions about the nature of politics and its discontents. The Origins of Political Order is a magisterial study on the emergence of mankind as a political animal, by one of the most eminent political thinkers writing today.

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