Francis Fukuyama's new memoir, "In the Realm of the Last Man," revisits his seminal 1989 essay, "The End of History?" He discusses how his argument, which posited liberal democracy's ultimate triumph, has evolved in light of recent electoral defeats for liberal democracies and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. Fukuyama explores how the internet and social media contribute to the listlessness he previously anticipated.
In his analysis, Fukuyama warns about the societal implications of AI, arguing that its danger extends beyond job displacement. He suggests that AI could erode the dignity associated with work, as a paycheck signifies that someone values one's labor. This potential loss of dignity, he believes, could lead to widespread loneliness, unhappiness, and political turmoil, observing that cash transfers or universal basic income cannot replace the social recognition a job provides.
Fukuyama also touches on geopolitical implications, connecting China's export-led growth, fueled by high tech, to the hollowing out of manufacturing bases globally and subsequent societal backlash. He sees AI as a powerful tool reshaping international power dynamics, similar to how nuclear weapons influenced geopolitics in a previous era. He advises watching the wages and job openings for entry-level white-collar roles like paralegals, junior analysts, and first-year coders as early indicators of this dignity crisis.
A separate discussion notes Fukuyama's concern that the ongoing Iran war risks repeating past mistakes from Iraq and Afghanistan, emphasizing that military power alone is unlikely to achieve lasting political change. This further underscores his broader concerns about the stability of the global order in the face of both technological shifts and traditional conflicts.
