TLDR:

Arch Puddington argues that the GOP's shift from a pro-democracy, internationalist stance to a more isolationist outlook, combined with rising global autocracy, threatens democracy worldwide. He warns that internal divisions and the GOP's retreat from democratic principles leave the U.S. ill-equipped to counter regimes like Russia and China.

In his recent text via American Purpose / Persuasion, former Freedom House co-worker Arch Puddington writes about the transformation of the Republican Party's stance on foreign policy, particularly its waning support for democratic values and internationalism. Once a staunch advocate for promoting democracy abroad under leaders like Ronald Reagan, the GOP has increasingly embraced an isolationist outlook championed by Donald Trump and other MAGA figures.

This shift was prominently displayed at the Republican National Convention, where speakers like Trump and J.D. Vance downplayed the significance of the war in Ukraine. At the same time, the few pro-Ukraine voices in the party remained notably subdued. Puddington contextualizes this retreat within a broader decline in global democratic norms, marked by the growing strength of autocratic regimes such as Russia, China, and Iran.

These regimes have developed sophisticated domestic repression systems and established a web of alliances that support their authoritarian governance models. The "no-limits" partnership between Russia and China, for example, demonstrates the extent of these regimes' cooperation, mainly as Russia draws on support from countries like Iran and North Korea to sustain its war efforts in Ukraine.

Puddington points out that Freedom House data reveals an alarming erosion of liberties worldwide, with countries already ranked low in freedom, like China and Venezuela, experiencing further declines. This trend is mirrored by a concerted effort among autocracies to control academic and historical narratives, ensuring that concepts like the rule of law and freedom of speech are depicted as Western tools of subjugation.

The author warns that the GOP's inward turn and domestic polarization in the U.S. have weakened America's ability to counterbalance rising autocratic power. In an era of growing global instability, this retreat could have profound consequences for the future of democracy.

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