Fukuyama argues that a successful modern state requires a delicate balance of three specific institutions:
The final section of the book focuses on the "decay" of modern liberal democracies, particularly the . Political Order and Political Decay: From the I...
A set of rules that are binding even on the most powerful political actors, preventing "rule by law" (where the law is just a tool for the elite). Fukuyama argues that a successful modern state requires
Humans have a biological "patrimonial" instinct to favor family and friends. Political order requires institutions to suppress this; "decay" occurs when these institutions fail and people revert to using the state for personal or tribal gain. Political Decay and the "Vetocracy" Political Order and Political Decay: From the I...
In the U.S., many administrative issues are resolved in courts rather than by expert bureaucracies. This leads to a slow, costly legal process that further hinders state capacity.
