American political scientist Francis Fukuyama, known for his ‘end of history’ thesis, re-states his argument from 1989 in the light of recent developments in the Arabic world, and discusses it with the famous writer and journalist Fareed Zakaria at a public seminar at Aarhus University, Denmark.

2011.05.05 | AU Kommunikation

All over the Arabic world there have been demands for ‘democracy’ over the past months. What forms of government will follow the fall of autocrats is still unknown and uncertain. For the groups behind the demonstrations and rebellions may have different notions of what ‘rule by the people’ means.

Nevertheless, at a seminar at Aarhus University on May 12-13 on “Democratization in Fragile States”, Stanford University’s Professor Francis Fukuyama will describe the events unfolding in the Arabic world at the moment as a ‘fourth wave of democratization’. The third was the one which rolled across the globe after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

His argument is sure to be critically scrutinised by other prominent experts on democracy and democratisation at the seminar which will feature international profiles such as Robert Rotberg (Harvard University), Jack Snyder (Columbia University), Robert Cooper (special adviser to Lady Ashton) and Fareed Zakaria, the renowned Indian-American author and journalist, who is Editor-at-Large at Time magazine and hosts CNN’s weekly Fareed Zakaria GPS.

This is the first time Professor Fukuyama and Dr Zakaria will have the opportunity to meet face to face.  However, they were both schooled as political scientists by two of Harvard University’s most famous and influential professors, Samuel P. Huntington and Stanley Hoffmann. 

Francis Fukuyama is Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. He is one of the world’s most respected political analysts, advisers and experts on issues ranging widely from economics, politics and international relations to ethics. He is frequently used as a commentator in the media and in intellectual magazines and as adviser for governments and international organizations. Since 2009 he has been Distinguished Visiting Professor at Aarhus University, Denmark.

The seminar is part of a larger conference on democracy and democratization and is organized by Aarhus University in collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is one of Aarhus University’s prestigious and high-profile MatchPoints Seminars held annually since 2007.

For details of the seminar, see www.matchpoints.au.dk or contact Michael Böss,  Director of MatchPoints Seminar, at engmb@hum.au.dk or by phone +45 2093 4818.

Head of Press affairs and strategic communication

Anders Correll
Phone: +4528992235
Email: ac@adm.au.dk