Moderate Republicans have gone virtually extinct because they never formed a real movement with a coherent program. Their absence has left American politics more polarized and less pragmatic. Two new books describe the rise of the Republican right -- and what it means for the country's future.

In his powerful and comprehensive survey of global political history, Francis Fukuyama explains how liberal democracies have managed to achieve what he calls the “miracle of modern politics”: balancing state power, the rule of law, and accountability to citizens. But past results, he warns, are no guarantee of future success.