Zakaria's thesis deals with the variables required for a stable and free democracy to be born. In the pursuit of this, his book begins with a historical overview of western democracy and its elements, arguing that not only can a liberal democracy form from a liberalizing autocracy (his most prominent example of this is South Korea), but that it is actually more likely to form and last that way than by trying to democratize the society first and liberalize it later (for this, he makes an example of Western Europe in the early twentieth century).
Zakaria's research examines the conditions required for a successful democracy. His book begins by outlining the history of Western democracies and their key elements. He argues that a liberal democracy can emerge from a liberalizing autocracy, citing South Korea as a prime example.  He also contends that this path is more likely to lead to a lasting democracy than attempting to democratize society first and then liberalize it later, using early 20th century Western Europe as an illustration.