The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution Chapter Summary & Analysis - Part IV, Chapters 26-28 Summary

Part IV, Chapters 26-28 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 26 is called "Toward a More Perfect Absolutism." Fukuyama looks at the political development of Russia, which was closer to that of the Chinese and Ottomans than to Western Europe, he claims. Russia developed a system that was very similar to that of the Ottomans, but never shared that empire's respect for a rule of law. Some parts of the state did develop "free" political traditions, as in Novgorod where local leaders were elected and answered to a representative body, but these traditions were quashed by powerful kings. The Orthodox Christian Church in Russia never developed an independent hierarchy like the Catholic Church in Europe and so did not contribute toward developing a rule of law in Russia. Fukyama sees parallels in modern Russia with the strong absolutist state that existed before the Communist Revolution. Leaders act with impunity and without respect for a rule of law, and power...
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