Francis Fukuyama is an American political scientist, philosopher, and author. He is best known for his book The End of History and the Last Man, which argued that the end of the Cold War marked the end of the progression of human history and the beginning of a new era of political stability. Fukuyama is also known for his work on the origins of political order, which examines the development of political institutions and the role of culture in shaping them. He has written extensively on the topics of democracy, governance, and international relations. Fukuyama is currently a professor at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Fukuyama's work has been widely discussed and debated in both academic and popular circles, and his ideas have had a major influence on contemporary political thought.