In the May 2025 issue of International Affairs, political theorist Michael C. Williams offers a powerful rethinking of the current global system in his article, “The Crisis of the Conservative International Order”. In this article, Prof. Williams asserts that the current disruption in global politics is not solely indicative of a crisis in the liberal international order (LIO), a dominant narrative of our time, but also stems from a deeper crisis within the conservative international order (CIO).
Post-1945 international order was shaped not only by liberal developments but also considerably built by conservative principles, governments and institutions that were crucial parts of domestic and international systems, coalitions and alliances footing the creation of post-war order. He describes it as a worldview that prioritised restraint over revolution and tradition over transformation. However, recent developments have seen conservatism transform from a foundational pillar of this order into one of its most potent challengers. This shift is attributed to the rise of radical conservative movements.
In a striking analysis, Williams traces how radical conservative movements, driven by populism, nationalism, and cultural resentment, have turned against the very international institutions and norms that classical conservatism once defended. Rather than being the stabilising force it historically represented, contemporary conservatism is becoming a medium for disruption.
Michael C. Williams provides a compelling argument that the crisis liberal international order is facing cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the vital role conservatism has played in its foundation and ongoing challenges. The conservative international order, once a balancing force, is now fracturing under the pressure of radical conservative movements that undermine the institutions and norms they historically upheld.
The article suggests a repositioning of conservatism in international political discourse, not just as an ideological counterpoint to liberalism, but as a constitutive force whose current fragmentation threatens the foundations of global order.
