New World (Dis)Order. In Anticipation of the End of History

The ideas of the end of history have long described the peculiarities of the global historical process. However, each time after the next "end of history," a new cycle of prosperous globalization or "golden" years (decades) begins anew, whether it be World War I, the catastrophe of 9/11, the rise of Trump, Putin's "special operation," or the overall return of destructive and archaic ideologies. Sometimes it seems that a catastrophic period of post-history has arrived. Nevertheless, the safety framework of civilization — universal values and democratic institutions — prevents the world from taking the final step into the abyss of post-history. And this fosters hope that the end of history "in a good sense" will still come.

This book is based on a series of lectures given at the School of Civic Enlightenment by political analyst Andrey Kolesnikov (recognized by the Russian Ministry of Justice as a foreign agent), a member of the academic council of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA). It traces the history of the ends of history, analyzing the political, sociocultural, and ideological circumstances that facilitated or hindered states and societies from developing normally or temporarily lapsing into barbarism.