The Good Fight Francis Fukuyama on War in the Middle East
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Jun 25, 2025 
Francis Fukuyama, Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford University and author of Liberalism and Its Discontents, joins Yascha Mounk for a deep dive into pressing global issues. They discuss the implications of U.S. military actions in Iran and how these actions may affect U.S.-Israel relations. Fukuyama also explores Iran's declining influence amid domestic unrest and reflects on the lessons from the Iraq war. The conversation takes an intriguing turn as they address the dual nature of AI, its political ramifications, and the urgency of reevaluating its risks.
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Iran's Current Weakness and Nuclear Ambitions
- The short-run success of military strikes diminished Iran's influence in the Middle East.
- Long-term nuclear ambitions persist, signaling ongoing regional security concerns.
Iran Regime's Fragility Matters
- Iran's regime is internally weak with low legitimacy bolstered mainly by military forces.
- The regime's durability is key to the Middle East's future stability.
Iran's Historic Statehood vs Iraq
- Iran has a millennia-old statehood unlike Iraq’s fragile construct.
- The future depends on who comes to power after possible regime change.