In your opinion does modern history support Fukuyama’s argument that the “dominant” post-Cold War system of democracy and capitalism is the best system that humanity has developed (or will develop)?

Any quotations from or references to specific parts of a text or other source should be cited using Chicago style citation in footnotes  A failure to cite sources of information is plagiarism.

You are required to use at least three sources in this paper. At least one of these should be a primary source.

Assignment: Using the assigned readings from this course and any other relevant materials please address the following prompt:

 Modern history (including the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries) has seen the development and implementation of numerous different political and social systems. The latter half of the twentieth century was in many ways defined by the struggle between two such systems in the Cold War. This conflict ultimately ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the collapse of many communist governments. The end of the Cold War was a shock to many, as was the aftermath, which saw changes to the political, economic, and diplomatic landscape not only in Eastern Europe, but throughout the world. Witnessing these events, the philosopher Francis Fukuyama described this period as “the end of history.” Fukuyama argued (as described in the textbook, pgs. 295-296) that the end of the USSR signaled a gain for humanity, the ultimate defeat of communism, and the inevitable triumph of the “Western” system of democracy and capitalism, which Fukuyama described as “the end point of mankind’s ideological evolution.”

 In your opinion does modern history support Fukuyama’s argument that the “dominant” post-Cold War system of democracy and capitalism is the best system that humanity has developed (or will develop)? In answering this question, consider which historical developments might be seen as either proving or disproving Fukuyama’s thesis.

 You may also want to consider the following questions as you develop your position: Did America actually “win” the Cold War? Were communism and its aftereffects wholly negative? How did Cold War struggles influence the interests of countries outside of the Soviet Union, the United States, and their most immediate allies? Are democracy and capitalism part of “Westernization”? What is the relationship between modernization and “Westernization”? Is this related to “globalization” and how? Are there alternatives to what Fukuyama describes?

 Please note that there is no “right” or “wrong” answer to this question. You will not be assessed on your opinion, but rather on the following:

The strength of the overall argument (or thesis) of the paper

The effectiveness of the supporting evidence that is used

The clarity of the writing, reasoning, and structure of the paper

 

Grading Criteria: An A paper includes a clear, original thesis, well-chosen and utilized evidence, excellent prose, comprehensible and effective organization, proper citations, and a thorough command of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A B paper includes a well-stated, but unoriginal argument, relevant citations, although there may be some formatting errors, adequate but less well-developed evidence, few mechanical errors, and serviceable, but not advanced prose. A C paper is characterized by an unclear or inadequate argument, tendency towards summarization over analysis, poorly chosen or underutilized evidence, relevant citations, although not conforming to standards, awkward paragraph structure, repetitive constructions or awkward prose, and more frequent mechanical errors. A D paper lacks a clear argument, has inadequate evidence, fails to develop an argument logically or clearly, lacks adequate citation, and includes excessive grammatical and spelling mistakes. An E paper fails to fulfill assignment requirements or contains plagiarized materials