Delivering for Democracy – Why results matter

Oct 7, 2025

Francis Fukuyama, a renowned political scientist and Senior Fellow at Stanford, delves into the critical importance of democratic delivery. He discusses how perceived failures in meeting citizen needs fuel populism. Fukuyama examines key delivery areas like infrastructure and job growth that sustain public support. He warns against authoritarian narratives that misinterpret success and stresses the need for institutional reforms to enhance effectiveness. The conversation highlights the risks of complacency in democracies and the necessity for realistic expectations concerning delivery.

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INSIGHT

Democratic Delivery Shapes Populist Appeal

Voter frustration stems from a sense democracies "can't get anything done."
Visible delivery failures fuel support for populists promising rapid action.

ANECDOTE

California High‑Speed Rail As A Cautionary Tale

Fukuyama cites California's stalled high-speed rail as a vivid example of democratic sluggishness.
He contrasts that with leaders like Trump and Elon Musk who project the image of getting things done quickly.

INSIGHT

China’s Build‑Fast Advantage

China’s capacity to build fast is central to its appeal in developing countries.
Democracies struggle to match that visible, rapid infrastructure delivery.

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The global wave of democratic backsliding has undermined the ascendancy of democracy in the twenty-first century. So what do democracies need to do to insulate themselves against this trend? Join Nic Cheeseman as he talks to Francis Fukuyama, one of the world’s best-known political scientists, about why democracies need to show they can make progress without sacrificing accountability in order to restore and sustain citizen’s confidence. Drawing on his new article in the Journal of Democracy with Chris Dann and Beatriz Magaloni, he argues that delivery for citizens is crucial to rebuilding the social contract and hence support for democracy – and warns about the dire consequences of failing this challenge.

This episode is based on Francis Fukuyama, Chris Dann and Beatriz Magaloni’s article “Delivering for Democracy: Why Results Matter” that was published in the April 2025 issue of the Journal of Democracy, and is part of an ongoing partnership between the Journal of Democracy and the People, Power, Politics podcast.

Guest: Francis Fukuyama is the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow, director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and professor (by courtesy) of political science at Stanford University. He is the author of some of the best-known book published on politics in the last thirty years, including The End of History and the Last Man (1992), Trust (1995), The Origins of Political Order (2011), Political Order and Political Decay (2014), and Identity (2018). His books have won numerous awards, including the Lionel Gelber Prize and the Arthur Ross Book Award, and the Fred Riggs Award for Lifetime Achievement in International and Comparative Public Administration (2024).

Presenter: Nic Cheeseman is the Professor of Democracy and International Development at the University of Birmingham and Founding Director of CEDAR.

The People, Power, Politics podcast brings you the latest insights into the factors that are shaping and re-shaping our political world. It is brought to you by the Centre for Elections, Democracy, Accountability and Representation (CEDAR) based at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. Join us to better understand the factors that promote and undermine democratic government around the world and follow us on Twitter at @CEDAR_Bham!

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