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The Narrow Corridor

States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty

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Brought to you by Penguin.

By the authors of the international bestseller 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.

Includes an accompanying PDF of charts.

 Corporate & Public Finance Law Politics & Government Social Sciences Violence in Society Socialism Latin American Freedom Africa Imperialism Self-Determination Taxation Capitalism Soviet Union American History War Economic disparity Middle East Social justice China Middle Ages Human Rights Economic Inequality Iran

Critic reviews

This book is more original and exciting than its predecessor...the highly influential Why Nations Fail (Martin Wolf)
One of the biggest paradoxes of political history is the trend, over the last 10,000 years, towards the development of strong centralized states, out of the former bands and tribes of no more than a few hundred people that formerly constituted all human societies. Without such states, it would be impossible for societies of millions to function. But-how can a powerful state be reconciled with liberty for the state's citizens? This great book provides an answer to this fundamental dilemma. You will find it as enjoyable as it is thought-provoking (Jared Diamond, Professor of Geography at UCLA, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel)
Another outstanding, insightful book by Acemoglu and Robinson on the importance and difficulty of getting and maintaining a successful democratic state. Packed with examples and analysis, it is a pleasure to read (Peter Diamond, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2010)
Society and state need each other. Applying a global wealth of historical detail to a simple analytic framework, Acemoglu and Robinson build a powerful argument against the current opposing fashions of totalitarianism and the stateless society (Sir Paul Collier, author of The Bottom Billion)
The Narrow Corridor takes us on a fascinating journey, across continents and through human history, to discover the critical ingredient of liberty. It finds that it's up to each of us: that ingredient is our own commitments, as citizens, to support democratic values. In these times, there can be no more important message-nor any more important book (George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2001)
How should we view the current challenges facing our democracies? This brilliant, timely book offers a simple, powerful framework for assessing alternative forms of social governance. The analysis is a reminder that it takes vigilance to maintain a proper balance between the state and society-to stay in the 'narrow corridor'-and avoid falling either into statelessness or dictatorship (Bengt Holmstrom, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2016)
Why is it so difficult to develop and sustain liberal democracy? The best recent work on this subject comes from a remarkable pair of scholars, Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. In their latest book, they have answered this question with great insight (Fareed Zakaraia)
All stars
Most relevant
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.

Review of The Narrow Corridor by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson

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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.

a must for anybody interested in politics/history

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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.

A great review of events in different parts of the world, old and new.

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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.

Democracy is not the destination of every country

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I think the general point of this book could have been made in much less time

Too long

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