A few weeks ago, I flew to Bogota to participate in a discussion about Colombia’s future with Francis “The End of History” Fukuyama and Robert “The Return of History” Kagan.
Francis emphasized the need to build and to strengthen both formal and informal institutions in the country. He pointed out that the Colombian government has, so far, been unable to ensure the equitable distribution of land, and its concentration in the hands of unlawful groups and large landowners has pushed campesinos (farmers) to the urban areas, increasing poverty and political instability. Bob explained how the world is being reshaped by a new ideological struggle between the forces of democracy and autocracy, which resembles the 19th century struggles between feudalism and democracy. People shouldn’t be fooled by the so-called transformation of autocracies such as Russia, China, and Venezuela. Those regimes may look democratic because their governments hold elections, but the polls don’t offer choices; only a chance to ratify the choices of incumbent leaders.
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