The Disappearance of a Common Enemy
As the Cold War gradually came to a close nearly four decades ago, a prominent adviser to the reformist Soviet leader, Mikhail S. Gorbachev, issued a stark warning to the West: “We are going to do the most terrible thing to you. We are going to deprive you of an enemy.” This statement encapsulated a profound shift in global dynamics, one that few anticipated would lead to such disorientation.
In the exuberant celebrations that accompanied the apparent victory of Western liberal democracy—characterized by free markets and open societies—there was little contemplation of the implications of a world devoid of a clearly defined adversary. However, as democracy began to flourish in newly liberated nations, it often took the form of divisive global capitalism, leading to increased social fragmentation and the erosion of a shared understanding of truth.
As hope dwindled in communities left behind by technological advancement, a palpable longing emerged for the kind of resolute authoritarian leadership that offered certainty in tumultuous times. Nicole Bacharan, a noted French political scientist, articulated this shift: “In the absence of a shared reality, or shared facts, or a shared threat, reason had no weight beside emotion.” This dislocation fostered a widespread craving for the strongman figure, someone who could provide clarity amid chaos.
Meanwhile, the trajectory of Russia, once envisioned as a potential ally of the West, took a dramatically different turn, eventually re-emerging as a formidable adversary. By the time Vladimir V. Putin initiated the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, disillusionment with Western liberalism had reached alarming depths. Putin’s vehement denunciations of perceived Western decadence resonated deeply with far-right nationalist movements across Europe, the United States, and beyond.
While Western allies rallied to support Ukrainian democracy, this commitment has begun to show signs of strain. The unexpected resurgence and decisive victory of Donald J. Trump symbolized the culmination of a long-standing rebellion against the established political order. Despite warnings regarding the fragility of democracy, the echoes of 20th-century catastrophes, and concerns over Trump’s affinity for authoritarian leaders, the tide of populism proved unstoppable.
