For decades, the global order was dominated by the narrative of liberal democracy’s rise. From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the expansion of the European Union and NATO, it seemed inevitable that democracy would spread across the globe. But in the 21st century, the tide has shifted. Strongmen and illiberal leaders are not only consolidating power within their borders but are also carving out growing influence in international affairs.
Welcome to the Age of Strongmen — a world where authoritarian governance is no longer the exception, but increasingly the model many leaders emulate.
The Strongman Playbook: How Power Is Consolidated
Today’s autocrats rarely wear uniforms or stage overt coups. Instead, they use more sophisticated — and often legal — mechanisms to erode democratic institutions from within. Their strategies share common traits:
- Control of the media: Independent journalism is stifled, either through censorship, government ownership, or intimidation.
- Judicial capture: Courts are reshaped to favor executive power, undermining checks and balances.
- Populist appeal: Strongmen often frame themselves as the sole defenders of national identity, culture, or security.
- Weakening opposition: Through legal restrictions, imprisonment, or electoral manipulation, opposition voices are marginalized.
This approach allows them to maintain the façade of democracy — regular elections, parliaments, and constitutions — while hollowing out the substance of pluralism and accountability.
Xi, Putin, and the Beijing-Moscow Axis
Perhaps no pair better represents this era than China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Both have rewritten political rules in their countries: Xi abolished presidential term limits in China, while Putin engineered constitutional changes allowing him to potentially stay in power until 2036.
Together, they represent a formidable challenge to the West. Their partnership is not just symbolic — it involves deepening military, economic, and energy ties, as well as a shared vision of resisting U.S.-led alliances.
Beyond China and Russia: The Global Spread
The strongman phenomenon is not confined to Beijing and Moscow. From Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, from India’s Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman, the playbook of centralizing power while claiming democratic legitimacy has gained traction.
Even within Western democracies, illiberal tendencies are rising. Politicians with populist, authoritarian-leaning agendas are winning elections by exploiting public disillusionment with globalization, inequality, and cultural change.
Why Strongmen Thrive in Today’s World
Several global shifts have created fertile ground for authoritarianism:
- Economic uncertainty – Rising inequality and job insecurity push citizens toward leaders promising stability and order.
- Nationalism and identity politics – Leaders exploit fears about migration, cultural change, or foreign influence.
- Erosion of trust – Widespread distrust of traditional elites and institutions makes anti-establishment rhetoric powerful.
- Technological tools – Surveillance, disinformation campaigns, and digital propaganda provide authoritarian leaders with unprecedented control.
Implications for the Global Order
Strongmen are not content with domestic dominance; they seek influence abroad. Xi pushes the Belt and Road Initiative, exporting China’s economic and political influence across Asia, Africa, and beyond. Putin wages hybrid wars through cyberattacks, disinformation, and military interventions. Others, like Erdoğan, leverage regional conflicts and migration to assert geopolitical relevance.
The cumulative effect is the erosion of a liberal, rules-based order. Multilateral institutions like the UN, WTO, and even NATO face mounting challenges, while authoritarian networks grow stronger through bilateral alliances and regional blocs.
Can Democracy Push Back?
Despite this rise, democracy is not defeated. In many places, civil society, grassroots movements, and younger generations are resisting authoritarian creep. Protests in countries as diverse as Belarus, Hong Kong, and Iran highlight the enduring human desire for freedom and accountability. Yet, the resilience of these movements often meets brutal repression.
For liberal democracies, the challenge lies in renewing themselves: reducing inequality, restoring trust in institutions, and proving that democracy can deliver stability, security, and prosperity in a complex world.
Conclusion: Living in a Strongman’s World
The world is entering an era where personalized power overshadows institutions, where geopolitics is shaped less by treaties and more by the will of leaders who view compromise as weakness. The question for the rest of us is whether liberal democracies can adapt fast enough to preserve their values, or whether we must indeed accept that, for now, we are living in a strongman’s world.
