The end of history

In 1992 Francis Fukuyama proclaimed the The End of History in his book the end of history and the last man. His premise being following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the world wide spread of liberal democracies and free market capitalism of the west and its lifestyle signalled the the end point of humanity’s sociocultural evolution and become the final form of human government.

According to Slavoj Zizek this is a position that Fukuyama has almost completely backtracked on since first stating it but while that may be the case it doesn’t mean that another sort of end of history hasn’t been taking place over the preceding decades; not necessarily by governments but through the populace.

This is perhaps most clearly illustrated in today’s student; fervently seeking approval from their tutors, trying their damnedest to fit in. If anyone should feel so bold as to declare the end of history then maybe this is a good place to start; when radical ideas are comfortable with being diluted into an already established format and bad behaviour is dismissed as irresponsible and childish tom foolery.