The Politics Of A Pandemic

Our guest this week is Francis Fukuyama, the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. His new article in Foreign Affairs, "The Pandemic and Political Order” provides the topic for this edition of GoodFellows. The piece poses a slew of intriguing questions and issues that the GoodFellows opine on: What will the world will look like post-COVID-19 pandemic? How will the global economy recover? Does the pandemic mark the end of Reaganism and Chicago School free-market economics? If so, what comes next? Also, why have some countries dealt with the crisis better than others so far, regardless of their political ideologies? Finally, even though the pandemic originated in China, East Asia has generally managed the situation better than Europe or the United States. Does this signal that COVID is shifting the economic tectonic plates under our feet? It’s a fascinating conversation that attempts to peek around the bend and predict what the world may look like over the next 18 to 24 months.

SPECIAL GUEST:

Francis Fukuyama is Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), Mosbacher Director of FSI's Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL), and Director of Stanford's Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy.  He is also professor (by courtesy) of Political Science. Dr. Fukuyama has written widely on issues in development and international politics. His 1992 book, The End of History and the Last Man, has appeared in over twenty foreign editions. His most recent book, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment, was published in Sept. 2018.

Recorded June 16, 2020 1PM PT


WATCH THE EPISODE

Cast

John H. Cochrane

John H. Cochrane

Sir Niall Ferguson

Sir Niall Ferguson

H.R. McMaster

H.R. McMaster

Francis Fukuyama

Francis Fukuyama

Related

Videos

Victor Davis Hanson: A Midterm Election Update

Hoover Institution fellow Victor Davis Hanson says with five weeks to go before the midterm elections, the races remain uncertain. Hanson notes that current polling shows Democrats with an advantage in several key contests, but questions remain about polling accuracy, campaign spending, redistricting and the records of individual candidates.

September 22, 2026

Videos

Taiwan’s Slow Squeeze, Ukraine’s Long War

What to make of the Cold War rivalry over AI and the prospects of a Chinese move on Taiwan? Hoover fellow and Sino expert Eyck Freymann discusses the state of U.S.-China relations, followed by a look at Russia’s war of attrition and Vladimir Putin’s options 55 months after his country launched this century’s second invasion of Ukraine.

September 23, 2026

Articles

For The 250th, Quiet Contemplation Of The Document That Started It All

These unvarnished but unbiased exhibits on the Declaration of Independence deserve a visit.

September 21, 2026