The Rise of the Illiberal International: A Threat to Global Democracy
In a world where political cooperation once fostered democracy, a new and worrying trend has emerged. The momentum has shifted towards autocracy, with a coalition of authoritarian and illiberal forces gaining strength. This "illiberal international" is a diverse network, ranging from historically democratic states with illiberal leaders to fully established autocracies.
What unites these actors is not their political ideology but their shared disdain for democratic institutions and liberal values. They seek to centralize power, undermine checks and balances, and manipulate information to erode accountability. By weakening pluralism and delegitimizing opponents, these leaders are rolling back political rights and civil liberties, and their collaboration is amplifying this trend.
The most visible manifestation of this alliance was perhaps the 2025 Beijing summit, where three prominent autocrats - Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, and Vladimir Putin - stood together, defiantly rejecting liberal norms. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. In 2024 alone, over 45,000 instances of coordination among authoritarian regimes were tracked, showcasing a global network of support.
In contrast, cooperation among democracies is faltering. The democratic alliance, once a powerful force, is losing its potency. The funding and capabilities of democratic nations have declined, and some former champions of democracy are now enabling illiberal networks. The conviction to uphold democratic values is wavering, and this has real-world consequences.
As the gap between authoritarian and democratic networks widens, democratic backsliding becomes harder to combat. This is not just a concern for those who value political rights and civil liberties. Authoritarian regimes breed conflict, instability, and repression, and their approach to development often falls short, creating a less safe, less free, and less prosperous world.
A World in Democratic Recession
Liberal democracy is in crisis. The world is witnessing a democratic recession, with 45 countries moving away from democracy in 2025 alone. Only a small fraction, 29 countries, can now claim the title of full democracies. Digging deeper, the outlook is even more concerning. Democracies that have backslid in recent decades are struggling to recover, with many falling back into autocracy within a few years.
One of the key factors in this shift is the rise of a global support network for autocrats. While there have been historical precedents for such collaborations, the authoritarian alliance that has emerged since the early 1990s is unique. It is well-resourced, with authoritarian countries collectively representing over 70% of the world's population and holding a significant share of global GDP.
This alliance is not directed by a single power like the Soviet-led Communist International. Instead, it operates as a collection of overlapping networks, each with its own agenda but often reinforcing the goals of the whole. From Russian mercenaries to Chinese surveillance technologies, these elements work together to construct a more authoritarian world.
The Many Forms of Collaboration
Collaboration among authoritarian powers takes various forms. Direct cooperation among nondemocratic states, such as China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela, is common. These countries share military intelligence, protect each other diplomatically, and create an environment where repression is normalized and accountability is diluted. They offer economic lifelines to sanctioned countries, undermining Western efforts to promote democracy.
Authoritarian middle powers, like Turkey and the UAE, are also active. They use military and financial tools to entrench illiberal governance abroad. The supply of military technology to incumbent strongmen has given these leaders an advantage, reinforcing their grip on power. Illicit networks, such as the "Laundromat" corruption network in Azerbaijan, play a crucial role in funding these international collaborations, infiltrating democratic countries and threatening their stability.
Ideological Warfare
Another key aspect of the illiberal project is the diffusion of authoritarian-friendly ideologies. Illiberal governments and their supporters around the world are designing and sharing narratives that reject democratic norms. These narratives often include calls to roll back women's rights and LGBTQ protections, sowing doubt about the legitimacy of democratic institutions and Western morality.
The impact of these narratives is far-reaching. They erode trust in democratic governance and normalize illiberal speech. Events like the "Make Europe Great Again" rally in Madrid bring together far-right parties from across the continent, blurring the lines between conservative discourse and outright disinformation. Training programs, like those offered by the Chinese Communist Party in African countries, teach government officials how to achieve results "without the messiness of democracy."
Personal Relationships and Transnational Support
Autocratic and authoritarian-leaning leaders also support each other through personal relationships. When former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro faced prosecution, Trump publicly condemned Brazil's judiciary and imposed tariffs. These informal ties provide financial lifelines, diplomatic cover, and a sense of external legitimacy, making it harder for domestic challengers to succeed.
The Democratic Alliance's Struggle
For decades, democratic networks held the upper hand, shaping the global order and embedding liberal norms. But they have failed to preserve their advantages. Democratic institutions' neutrality has allowed illiberal actors to bend the rules from within. The pro-democracy narrative, once inspiring, has become stale, and major democracies are avoiding the term altogether.
The current U.S. administration has further weakened the democratic alliance by dismantling key agencies and instructing diplomats to avoid commenting on the democratic values of foreign countries. Europe, facing austerity measures, is unlikely to fill the gap. As a result, authoritarian governments and movements have a clear lane to operate.
Rethinking the Approach
To halt the expansion of the illiberal international, democracy's defenders must rethink their strategy. They need to reclaim the narrative, making democratic values culturally relevant and showing citizens how democracy improves their lives. Effective strategies, like the WhatsApp network in France, can counter misleading information and encourage voter engagement.
Democracies must also address authoritarian disinformation more robustly. The EU has made progress, but more is needed. Democratic governments must pool resources and intelligence to establish clear standards for online platforms to promote information integrity. Financing is crucial, and democratic governments must expand funding channels to support activists, journalists, and civic organizations in their fight against corruption and disinformation.
Finally, the democratic alliance needs diverse leadership. European and North American countries should not be the sole agenda-setters. A broad coalition with fresh ideas and energy is needed, and this momentum is likely to come from other regions. Summits like Democracia Siempre are steps in the right direction, bringing together leaders committed to building inclusive, responsive democracies.
Democracy is under attack, and it must be defended in every arena. Democratic governments, civil society groups, media, and international institutions must not only strengthen their political systems at home but also confront the illiberal networks empowering authoritarian movements worldwide. Superior coordination is giving autocracy an edge, and until the democratic alliance updates its strategies, further decline is inevitable.
