Examine the similarities in how democratic and autocratic states impact on global order (12)

Point 1: Seek to defend themselves and security maximise

Democratic States:

• Both regimes invest in military strength & deterrence as tools to influence global security. They seek to defend themselves and maximise security.

E.g. USA:

• Remains the largest military spender globally – in 2024 its defence budget was an estimated US $997 billion accounting for 37% off military expenditure.

• Approximately 2,000 deployed nuclear weapons – allows them to act as major security actors and shape global deterrence.

 

Autocracies:

E.g. North Korea

• Estimated to have around 1.3 million active-duty personnel, making it one of the largest militaries in the world.

E.g. China

• China had an estimated military expenditure of $314 billion in 2024

Point 2: Use international institutions to advance their interests

Democratic States:

• Rely on long-standing alliances & organisations to embed a rules-based order

• Many democratic states participate in NATO or rely on United Nations for security cooperation and diplomacy and norm setting

• Helps stabilise relations between democracies and project collective influence globally.

 

Autocracies:

• Similarly, autocratic states often build or reform alternative institutions to reflect their interests

• E.g. states aligned with China or Russia participate in or promote blocs such as BRICS or the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), seeking to challenge Western-led institutions and create competing centres of economic and strategic influence

• By doing this, both regimes attempt to shape global governance, influence international norms and align other states under their preferred political and economic frameworks, demonstrating that institutional power politics is universal across regime types.

Point 3: Use economic power to influence global order

Democratic States:

• Rely on economic tools to influence international behaviour: sanctions, foreign aid, trade agreements and conditional cooperation remain staple instruments 

• E.g. US & EU Sanctions on Russia 2014-present

  • After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and again after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the US and EU imposed sweeping economic sanctions including freezing assets, cutting Russian banks off from SWIFT and restricting oil and gas exports.

• US-China Trade War (2018-2020):

  • US imposed tariffs on over $360 bn worth of Chinese goods to challenge unfair trade practices. Illustrates democracies using trade policy as a strategic tool, not just economic competition.

 

Autocracies:

• Also leverage economic power to expand global reach and shape world order.

• E.g. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

  • Since 2013, China has invested trillions of dollars in infrastructure across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. Loans, ports, (e.g. Hambantota in Sri Lanka), railways, and energy projects expand China’s global economic reach.

• Russia’s Use of Energy as Leverage

  • Russia has repeatedly used gas supplies to Europe as political pressure (especially against Ukraine in 2006, 2009, 2014). E.g. pipelines like Nord Stream increase European dependence on Russia. Illustrates autocratic use of energy geopolitics.

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