Celebrated public intellectual Francis Fukuyama ’74 has been named the inaugural Freedom and Free Societies Professor through Cornell’s Program on Freedom and Free Societies (F&FS). Widely known for his influential 1992 book, “The End of History and the Last Man,” Fukuyama, who earned his undergraduate degree in classics, is one of the world's leading thinkers on democracy, political institutions and international affairs.
The Freedom and Free Societies Professorship is designed to bring distinguished thinkers of the highest caliber to Cornell for brief, intensive engagement with students and faculty on fundamental questions about freedom and the institutions that sustain it. Rather than a conventional lecture visit, the professorship combines undergraduate classroom teaching with public discussion, giving students the opportunity to study closely with scholars whose ideas have shaped debates far beyond the university. The appointment reflects the program's commitment to intellectual openness, rigorous inquiry, and constructive disagreement across political and disciplinary boundaries, said F&FS director Mike Fontaine, professor of classics in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Fukuyama will return to Cornell March 1–5, 2027, to teach an intensive, one-credit course, GOVT 3334 Modern and Postmodern Institutions, through the Department of Government (A&S). The course will explore fundamental questions about human nature and political order, the origins of the state and the rule of law, liberalism and its discontents, and the implications of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for the future of politics. (Note: the course is capped at 25 students.)
In addition to the course, Fukuyama will deliver a public lecture on March 5, giving students, faculty and members of the broader Cornell and Ithaca community an opportunity to engage with his ideas.
“Francis Fukuyama is one of the most influential political thinkers of our time, and we are thrilled to welcome him back to Cornell as our inaugural Freedom and Free Societies Professor,” Fontaine said. “For decades, his work has challenged people across the political spectrum to think seriously about democracy, liberalism and the institutions that make free societies possible.
“What makes this appointment especially meaningful is that Frank began his intellectual journey right here at Cornell, as a student of classics. His career demonstrates how the study of the ancient world can illuminate the most urgent questions of modern political life. Our program exists to encourage precisely this kind of open, rigorous and intellectually adventurous inquiry, and I can think of no better person to inaugurate this professorship,” Fontaine said.
The Program on Freedom and Free Societies brings leading scholars and public intellectuals to Cornell to engage students and faculty in fundamental questions about liberty, political institutions, and the conditions necessary for free societies to flourish. The program aims to spread light rather than heat, fostering rigorous inquiry and constructive disagreement on questions that too often divide us, Fontaine said.
Fukuyama is the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and a faculty member at its Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law. He is also director of Stanford's Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy, and a courtesy professor of political science.
Fukuyama received his B.A. in classics from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University. His latest book, “In the Realm of the Last Man: A Memoir” (2026), traces his intellectual and political development over five decades, beginning with his undergraduate years at Cornell.
In addition to serving on the Policy Planning Staff of the U.S. Department of State, Fukuyama also served as a member of the President’s Council on Bioethics. He is editor-in-chief of American Purpose, an online journal.
Among his honors, Fukuyama holds honorary doctorates from seven U.S. and international colleges and universities; is a fellow of the National Academy for Public Administration; and is a member of the American Political Science Association and of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Linda B. Glaser is news and media relations manager for the College of Arts and Sciences.
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