We once assumed liberal democracy – with its freedoms, individualism, and belief in progress – would lead the way in solving global challenges such as climate change and environmental damage. However, the evidence suggests the tables are being turned and that authoritarian regimes are surpassing their liberal counterparts. In 2024, China invested over $625 billion in clean energy and installed more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined. Any progress liberal countries have made has been made possible by China's green tech leadership, supply chains, and key minerals. 95 % of solar panels installed in the EU in 2024 were imported from China.
Is liberal democracy unsuited to getting action on global challenges? Is climate action better achieved by authoritarian governments? With liberalism faced with these challenges, what political system can best solve our 21st-century crises?
