The Real Crisis of Global Order: Illiberalism on the Rise, an article by Director of the Harriman Institute, Alexander Cooley and Daniel Nexon (Georgetown University) published in Foreign Affairs, highlights that:

“Every American analyst seems to agree that the United States needs to first sort itself out to effectively compete with authoritarian great powers and advance the cause of democracy on the global stage.” The authors further stress that, “All of this goes way beyond giving American democracy a fresh coat of paint and remodeling its kitchen. The crisis cannot be addressed by simply recommitting the United States to multilateral institutions, treaties, and alliances. Its roots are structural.” The hurdles are real, and “in advancing liberal rights, policymakers have to navigate significant tradeoffs, inconsistencies, and contention.”