As the global order is reshaped by strongman tendencies in both East and West, smaller states must learn to adapt to protect both their position and values. One clear example of this comes from Moldova, where local leadership is now exporting its own success story regarding democratization.
To say that the second Trump administration has revived a spheres-of-influence logic in the international system is already a cliché. Yet clichés become clichés for a reason: they underline patterns one cannot ignore. The neo-royalist politics of “might makes right”, where deals between strongmen and “direct dial diplomacy” replace institutional arrangements, is back in the play. This is the “Trump Syndrome”. While malign superpowers, like Russia, rejoice in its logic, small states face unprecedented existential angst. Clearly, this international climate is not ideal for young democracies, liminal states and middle powers. However, counter-examples still seem to emerge.
