summary of the book why nation fail

 From my perspective, Why Nations Fail represents a comprehensive body of research grounded in the examination of thousands of years of historical facts and patterns of human civilization. Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson derive profound conclusions on how some nation became prosperous and powerful while other nation fail to do it. they also propose pathways to prosperity based on these extensive evaluations and studies

In this book, the authors explicitly argue that the causes of poverty and prosperity in nations are not necessarily determined by geographical, cultural, or religious factors—contrary to the claims of traditional economic theories. Instead, they emphasize that the nature of a nation’s economic and political institutions plays the decisive role. This is evident in the contrasting development of Eastern and Western Europe, where two regions of the same continent, despite sharing similar geography, religious traditions, and cultural backgrounds, evolved differently during the nineteenth century. The inclusive economic and political institutions of Western Europe led to greater prosperity compared to their more extractive counterparts in the East. A similar contrast can be observed in the city of Nogales, which is divided by the U.S.–Mexico border; despite having the same culture, religion, and geography, the two sides exhibit starkly different levels of prosperity, further reinforcing the authors’ claim.

The authors further explain that during critical junctures—major turning points such as wars, revolutions, or the collapse of governments—even small decisions or seemingly minor shifts can shape an entirely different future. Drawing on historical examples, they argue that nations with extractive political and economic institutions may achieve short-term prosperity, but such growth is unsustainable. The case of the Soviet Union illustrates this point: although it experienced rapid economic expansion during the early stages of industrialization due to heavy investment in industry, growth soon stagnated because of the absence of inclusive institutions. In essence, the central message of Why Nations Fail can be summarized in one sentence: it is “institutions, institutions, and only inclusive economic and political institutions that can bring lasting prosperity to a nation.”