illiberalism

The Erosion of the Liberal Order and the Rise of Illiberal Governance

The post-Cold War liberal international order—based on democratic norms, multilateral institutions, and rules-based trade—is under sustained assault. A rising tide of authoritarian capitalism, exemplified by China and Russia, offers an alternative model that prioritizes state control, sovereignty, and economic growth without political liberalism. Within democracies, populism and nationalism challenge multilateral commitments and international cooperation. This ideological competition weakens global responses to transnational problems like pandemics and climate change. The world is fracturing into spheres of influence with competing value systems, moving from a unipolar moment toward a disordered multipolarity where raw power and bilateral deals often trump collective rules.

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