"The End of History" is a political and philosophical concept popularized by Francis Fukuyama in his 1992 essay and subsequent book. Fukuyama argues that the spread of liberal democracy and free-market capitalism represents the endpoint of humanity's ideological evolution, suggesting that these systems are the most effective forms of governance. The idea posits that, after the Cold War, no viable alternative to liberal democracy would emerge, leading to a global consensus on political and economic systems. Critics argue that this perspective overlooks ongoing conflicts and the rise of authoritarian regimes, challenging the notion that history has reached a definitive conclusion.