Have we reached the "end of history"?

Question

or is there a specter of communism still lurking

It's Francis Fukuyama's idea.
Writing after the fall of the Berlin Wall etc.

Answer 1

We are always at one end of history looking back to see where we have been.

As for communism, read the Communist Manifesto and you will see that so long as conflict survives, the need for communism will survive. It hopes to temper the struggle between the aves and the havenots so that further bloodshed may be avoided. The problem is that communism as no compensation for greatness. The whole benefits, The one loses out. Why should the one have great thoughts in such a world as this?

Answer 2

It seems that the premise behind the quote is implying that European history ends with the fall of communism. Communism was an artificial label for resistance politics in Europe. Maintained and finally exhausted by the Russian Revolution of 1917, resistance politics in Europe became a farce under the label of communism. The quote has this in mind: that without opposing voices European history comes to an end. Does it? I think History is only fragile when one overtly invents enemies.

All human history has been at strongest and most enduring phase when it has shown an interest in High Culture (philosophy, art, literature) as its primary motivator.
History is at an end when the formula one uses is completely wrong. The quote you have referenced is one example of an incorrect formula.

Answer 3

You might have shown some consideration by clarifying for those of us who are not familiar with Fukuyama, what he meant by that. As to Communism, there are some African nations which are trying to institute it. Bolivia and Venezuela are experimenting with a version of it. And Nepal is torn by a war in which Maoist rebels fight a monarchist government. This war even threatens neighbouring Bhutan and India.
If you can edit your question, writing what you understand by F. Fukuyama, and clarifying your question, this might help the discussion some. You could even extend the life of the question. This would be living history.

Answer 4

Well, even Fukuyama has since admitted he was wrong. It has become painfully obvious that with the collapse of communism the third world has not enthusiastically embraced western values, as the current war on terror demonstrates. There will never be an end to history.

Answer 5

There is still much communism in the world, and it's not just a specter.

Answer 6

I'll tell you tomorrow.

Well, I'm a bit late - it's two weeks later.

Since Plato invented communism, and since philosophy is "a series of footnotes to Plato" (Whitehead), there will always be a spectre of communism as long as there is philosophy.

In short, while philosophy continues, history continues.

Answer 7

History is constantly repeating itself- much like all the Hollywood remakes- they just take another name, different actors and add something that was not spoken about before.
Gladiators challenged their leaders and found democracy.
Colombus challenged the almighty church and found America. America challenged the almighty English and found another gladiator sport called American football.
(and that's just The Idiot's Guide format).
Read more history, from Socrates to Nietsche and from Buddha to Jesus. It's all the same with different marketing campaigns!

Answer 8

History continues then, only within the context of Communism? How so? Your question cannot be answered because there exists no premise or parameters. Think out your question carefully and post again. I'll try to answer it for you!

Answer 9

Communism has nothing to do with it! No, we've not reached the end of "history". Even if mankind isn't a part of it, history will still progress forward.

Answer 10

Yeah, the snarly, growing-tip end of history! The one where the chaos lurks, watching us uncomfortably like "the glance of a cross-eyed man."