The Rebirth of the Liberal World Order?

Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine has given the world's democrats a renewed sense of unity and purpose. Galvanized by a sense of common threat and existential peril, Western democracies have imposed biting sanctions on Russia, boosted weapons and aid shipments to Ukraine, and increased military spending dramatically. This vigorous and unified response from Western democracies contrasts their muted replies to the past decade of democratic malaise, which was characterized by serious—though slow and surreptitious—authoritarian attacks. The Russian invasion may also weaken the emerging "authoritarian international" as the conflict has proved far more difficult and costly to Russia than expected. Whether the invasion marks a turning point for the liberal world order will depend in part on whether the world's democrats can maintain solidarity through the crisis.