The Narrow Corridor
States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty
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The Narrow Corridor
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Narrated by:
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Stephen Graybill
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
By the authors of the international best seller Why Nations Fail, based on decades of research, this powerful new big-picture framework explains how some countries develop towards and provide liberty while others fall to despotism, anarchy or asphyxiating norms - and explains how liberty can thrive despite new threats.
Liberty is hardly the 'natural' order of things; usually states have been either too weak to protect individuals or too strong for people to protect themselves from despotism. There is also a happy Western myth that where liberty exists, it's a steady state, arrived at by 'enlightenment'. But liberty emerges only when a delicate and incessant balance is struck between state and society - between elites and citizens. This struggle becomes self-reinforcing, inducing both state and society to develop a richer array of capacities, thus affecting the peacefulness of societies, the success of economies and how people experience their daily lives.
Explaining this new framework through compelling stories from around the world, in history and from today - and through a single diagram on which the development of any state can be plotted - this masterpiece helps us understand the past and present, and analyse the future.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio on our Desktop Site.
©2019 Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson (P)2019 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about The Narrow Corridor
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Shopper
- 17-05-24
A great review of events in different parts of the world, old and new.
Liked the approach by reviewing many different events in different regions and culture and providing potential reasons and explanations for each case. Sometimes I felt too much detail was given but probably those were needed for different readers and listeners.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 15-03-25
Review of The Narrow Corridor by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
I found The Narrow Corridor to be a fascinating and deeply insightful book. Acemoglu and Robinson offer a compelling framework for understanding the delicate balance between state power and societal strength, showing that liberty is not a fixed state but a continuous struggle within a narrow corridor.
What stood out to me was the way the book weaved together diverse historical examples—from ancient empires to modern democracies—to illustrate how different societies have navigated (or failed to navigate) this balance. The concept of the “Red Queen effect,” where both the state and society must constantly evolve to sustain freedom, was particularly thought-provoking.
While some of the historical interpretations could be debated, the book’s core argument is both persuasive and relevant in today’s political landscape. It made me reflect on the challenges of maintaining democracy and the risks of both excessive state control and weak governance. Overall, I highly recommend The Narrow Corridor to anyone interested in political economy, history, or the forces shaping our societies today.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Yildirim Kirgoz
- 24-05-20
a must for anybody interested in politics/history
this books presents a solid theoretical framework that can be used by all historians and political scientists, especially if combined with the premises of "why nations fail" by the same authors. good narration except the pronunciation of few French words.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jessie
- 18-11-21
Democracy is not the destination of every country
For a long time, I had been puzzled why some countries didn't become democratic after the overthrow of the previous dictatorship. This book is absolutely eye-opening to me. Now I understand that democracy is not THE destiantion of all countries. Rather, it's a divergence influenced by many factors.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 27-05-21
Too long
I think the general point of this book could have been made in much less time
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