Kojève develops many themes that would be fundamental to existentialism and French theory such as the end of history and the Master-Slave Dialectic.

Kojève takes Heidegger's concept of Angst (anxiety) in the face of death and applies it to the fear experienced by the Slave in his initial conflict with the Master.

This initial act of submission due to the Slave's unwillingness to accept death sets the foundation for their unequal relationship.

Marcuse credits the "new French interpretation" with showing clearly "the inner connection between the idealistic and materialistic dialectic", and lists Kojève's book as one of the key works.

[5] Simone de Beauvoir's reading of the book would emphasize the Master-Slave relation between men and women she saw in The Second Sex (1949).