A Front Row Seat at the End of History: The untimely essays of David Martin Jones and M.L.R. Smith 1999-2024

For over 25 years, the essays by David Martin Jones and M.L.R. Smith have critiqued the ideology of the 'end of history'. This belief, which gained popularity after the Cold War, assumed that the West had 'won' and that the world would naturally converge towards liberal democracy.

However, Jones and Smith, drawing from their experiences in Southeast Asia during the 1990s, challenged this notion. They observed:

• Ethno-religious tensions,
• Underlying economic instability, and
• Clashing cultural values.

Their work highlighted the fragility of the Asian economic boom, the rise of Islamist activism before 9/11, and the dangers posed by Western military interventions. They argued that a secular progressive ideology was eroding both Western culture and geopolitical awareness.

Despite their often-gloomy diagnosis of the West's trajectory, Jones and Smith still recognized the potential for the West to recover its sense of purpose and confidence. Tragically, world events have unfolded in ways that validate much of their work. Once marginalized, their views are now regarded as prophetic.

This volume represents the best part of three decades' worth of uncompromising thought and scholarship. Welcome to the incisive and fearless perspectives of two scholars standing on the shoulders of giants.