What does Fukuyama now think of America's Iraq adventure, and of claims that Iraq could somehow provide an alternative model for Arab states which, believe the neo-conservatives, have somehow become stuck in history?

He holds out hope that Arab governments can improve without becoming fully democratic. As an example, he points to Singapore, which he says is "relatively corrupt" but still manages to govern well.

"Without a change on the level of ideas, any reconciliation of Islam and democracy is not going to come about.

Unless you fight out that battle on the plain of ideas and say it is perfectly legitimate to have a more liberal version of religion, then I think ultimately you will have long-term problems having genuine democracy in a Muslim country.

We should not minimise the fact that there is a conflict of ideas at the present, not with Islam as a religion but with particular interpretations of Islam."

Francis Fukuyama: The acceptable face of the neo-cons? | Al-Ahram Weekly | Profile