Publications and Research
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 2025
Abstract
The liberal world order is dead: the United States has abandoned both the domestic and international institutional commitments that enabled it to function. How can liberal democracy survive in an increasingly hostile world? How can liberal democracies grow powerful enough to defend themselves without becoming the empires they fear? I argue that seapowers have historically represented a distinct kind of hegemon, that is more amenable to international cooperation, and democracy at home. Moreover, the transition from declining seapowers to rising ones has played a vital role in preserving a space for more liberal states (relative to their historical context), such as when Churchill traded bases for ships. In that spirit, I propose a strategy for the construction of a Liberal Union whereby remaining liberal states can coordinate in building the power projection capabilities necessary for their common defense.
