Identity Politics of the Postcolonial Era

Question 1

Francis Fukuyama asserts that history is a process of evolution. In Francis Fukuyama’s
essay, “The End of History,” he argues that liberal democracy has become the final form of
government in all countries. He explains that liberal democracy has proven to be a better form of
government over time than other alternatives. The author predicted no progression from
democracy. Instead, he claimed that the system of democracy would become more prevalent in
the future.
On the other hand, Dubravka Ugrešić, in her essay, Nice People Don’t Mention Such
Things, asserts that most aspects of European identities, such as civilization, Enlightenment,
freedom, rationalism, and culture, were built up gradually. She notes that democracy, as
promised by the west, was masked by autocracy. The author explains that the culture in the East
was built in contrast to Europe’s culture. For instance, Dubravka highlights aspects of modern
European culture, such as religion and society, as stumbling blocks.

Question 2

David Imhoof concurs, to some extent, with the views of Francis Fukuyama and
Dubravka Ugrešić on identity politics in the 1990s. For instance, Francis Fukuyama argues that
liberal democracy has taken shape as the best form of government and will continue to prevail in
the future. Contrarily, Dubravka argues that democracy is full of faults. This is especially in
relation to the aspects like social rights and religion. David Imhoof would agree with both
authors’ portrayal of the 1990s identities. For example, David Imhoof argues that the
Enlightenment introduced by the Europeans has enhanced development, among other numerous
benefits. He further accepts that it is not flawless, although it continues to grow.