Liberal statecraft and the problems of world order.

This article examines the future of the Western-led liberal international order, arguing that over the past two centuries, liberal democracies have developed a tradition of international order building aimed at managing interdependence, protecting liberal values, and defending against illiberal threats. It highlights how liberal democracies have used institutions to address core problems of anarchy, hierarchy, interdependence, liberal openness, and geopolitical vulnerability, with major expansions of liberal order occurring after significant wars. Despite current challenges from rising illiberal powers like China and Russia and internal strains within liberal democracies, the article contends that liberal internationalism remains relevant and necessary for addressing twenty-first-century global issues, emphasizing the continued importance of coalitions among like-minded democratic states.