Francis Fukuyama’s declaration that liberal democracy marked the final, and best possible, stage of humanity’s political development required both intellectual foresight and courage, especially since it came before the triumphant moment of the end of the Cold War. A quarter of a century later, however, the West-led liberal democratic order appears to be unraveling. Meanwhile, potential systemic alternatives seem neither innovative nor superior, thus lending a paradoxical resonance to Fukuyama’s much-debated standpoint.

In keeping with its tradition of hosting high-level debate, the next Political Salon will welcome Francis Fukuyama as guest speaker. Together with a panel of co-hosts, Andreas Treichl – ERSTE Foundation, Christian Ultsch – Die Presse and Ivan Krastev – IWM Permanent Fellow, Fukuyama will explore some of the most contested questions in contemporary politics and economics.

What has driven the erosion of trust in traditional institutions and fueled the post-2016 populist surge? Can the Western alliance sustain the combined pressures of Russian aggression against Ukraine and »special operations« in regions such as Venezuela and Iran? Can US institutions, most notably its bureaucracy, judiciary, and the media, withstand the MAGA challenge? In short: is the current world order merely undergoing a realignment, or is it breaking apart altogether?

Francis Fukuyama is an American political scientist, political economist, and public intellectual best known for his influential work on the development and future of liberal democracy. He first gained global prominence with his 1989 essay, later expanded into the book The End of History and the Last Man (Free Press, 1992). His later work has explored themes such as state-building, governance, identity, and political decay. Notable books include Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity (Free Press, 1995), Political Order and Political Decay (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2014), and Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018). Fukuyama is a professor at Stanford University and a Europe’s Futures Fellow of the IWM and ERSTE Foundation.

The conversation will be held in English. We kindly ask you to register in advance via the following link: Calendar – April 17, 2026 – A Political Salon with Francis Fukuyama – WIEN MUSEUM. Please note that seats are limited and will be allocated on a first‑come, first‑served basis. The event will last approximately 90 minutes and is free of charge. The meeting point is the event room on the 3rd floor.

The program is presented in collaboration with IWM, Die Presse, ERSTE Foundation, and Wien Museum.

Header image: Francis Fukuyama, photographed by Marcel Billaudet.