Fabula in Theory: Francis Fukuyama

As part of its theoretical-humanist focus, the Fabula Festival is hosting Francis Fukuyama, one of the most influential contemporary political thinkers. Fukuyama, author of the groundbreaking work The End of History and the Last Man, proposing his controversial thesis on the ideological culmination of liberal democracy at the end of the Cold War, continues to be a seminal voice in debates on the future of global politics, democracy and its challenges.

The event is dedicated to his latest book, Liberalism and Its Discontents (2022), on this occasion published in Slovenian translation. In the book, Fukuyama argues in favour of classical liberalism as a system that enables pluralism, respects basic human dignity and boosts economic progress, while analysing the threats from the left and the right. He is critical of neoliberalism and stresses the need for regulation with a view to limiting the power of corporations and improving social welfare. At the same time, he touches on the negative effects of the digital age, in which online platforms manipulate public opinion, spread misinformation and undermine democratic debate.

In Ljubljana, Fukuyama will address current political and social issues, including the challenges of liberalism at a time of rising populism, identity politics and the technological changes shaping the modern world. His theses will provide insights into the crucial issues of our time: Which direction is liberal democracy taking, and Can it survive a host of internal and external pressures?

Francis Fukuyama (1952), US political scientist, writer and professor at Stanford University, received his PhD from Harvard University. He is known for his influential thesis on the end of history, which has impacted global debates on politics, identity and the future of democratic systems. Among his most important works are Liberalism and Its Discontents, Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution and Trust: Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. His influence goes beyond academia, as his analyses form an important part of the wider discourse on the future of political and social systems.

The talk will be hosted by Rudi Rizman.

The event will be held in English, with simultaneous translation into Slovenian.