Political Order And Political Decay: From The I... -

A strong state that lacks the rule of law and democratic accountability.

In the U.S., many administrative issues are resolved in courts rather than by expert bureaucracies. This leads to a slow, costly legal process that further hinders state capacity. Political Order and Political Decay: From the I...

A once-strong state now suffering from "decay" through legal gridlock and interest group capture. A strong state that lacks the rule of

Humans have a biological "patrimonial" instinct to favor family and friends. Political order requires institutions to suppress this; "decay" occurs when these institutions fail and people revert to using the state for personal or tribal gain. Political Decay and the "Vetocracy" A once-strong state now suffering from "decay" through

A rising global middle class is seen as a primary driver of democracy, as they tend to demand more institutional accountability and merit-based governance.

An example of how war forced the development of a professional, autonomous bureaucracy.

Fukuyama posits that the order in which these institutions develop matters immensely. For instance, countries that developed a strong, professional bureaucracy before democratization (like Prussia/Germany) often have more effective governance than those where democracy arrived before a competent state was built.