Francis Fukuyama ’74 named Freedom and Free Societies Professor

Celebrated public intellectual Francis Fukuyama '74 has been named the inaugural Freedom and Free Societies Professor through Cornell's Program on Freedom and Free Societies (F&FS). Widely known for his influential 1992 book, "The End of History and the Last Man," Fukuyama, who earned his undergraduate degree in classics, is one of the world's leading thinkers on democracy, political institutions and international affairs.

The Freedom and Free Societies Professorship is designed to bring distinguished thinkers of the highest caliber to Cornell for brief, intensive engagement with students and faculty on fundamental questions about freedom and the institutions that sustain it. Rather than a conventional lecture visit, the professorship combines undergraduate classroom teaching with public discussion, giving students the opportunity to study closely with scholars whose ideas have shaped debates far beyond the university. The appointment reflects the program's commitment to intellectual openness, rigorous inquiry, and constructive disagreement across political and disciplinary boundaries, said F&FS director Mike Fontaine, professor of classics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Fukuyama will return to Cornell March 1-5, 2027, to teach an intensive, one-credit course, GOVT 3334 Modern and Postmodern Institutions, through the Department of Government (A&S). The course will explore fundamental questions about human nature and political order, the origins of the state and the rule of law, liberalism and its discontents, and the implications of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for the future of politics. (Note: the course is capped at 25 students.)

In addition to the course, Fukuyama will deliver a public lecture on March 5, giving students, faculty and members of the broader Cornell and Ithaca community an opportunity to engage with his ideas.

Read the full story on the college of Arts and Sciences website.