Defending Democracy Without Losing It: Europe’s Hardest Test

Europe is approaching a decisive moment. War has returned to the continent, geopolitical rivalry is intensifying, and authoritarian states are increasingly coordinating their efforts to undermine liberal democratic norms. In this environment, the European Union and Europe’s democracies face a difficult but unavoidable question:

How do we strengthen European cooperation and resilience without allowing ourselves to become a project defined primarily by reaction to others?

History offers a sobering parallel. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Western world confronted a similar dilemma: how far can a democracy go to defend freedom and security without eroding the very rights and principles it seeks to protect? With hindsight, we know that parts of the response were miscalibrated. Emergency measures became permanent, surveillance expanded beyond proportionality, and core rule-of-law principles were stretched in the name of security.

That lesson matters deeply today.

A Narrative That Serves Authoritarian Interests

The often-invoked image of a new world order divided into spheres of influence—led by the United States, China, and Russia—is less an objective assessment of power than a political narrative. In particular, the notion that Russia constitutes a natural hegemonic force over Europe lacks economic, demographic, and conventional military foundations.

Yet the narrative persists. Why?

Because it serves authoritarian interests. A Europe portrayed as weak, divided, or incapable of action is easier to manipulate. A Europe that overreacts—centralising power in haste or compromising its own principles—becomes an even more useful propaganda tool.

In both cases, those who wish to see the European project fail are the beneficiaries.

Europe’s Strength Lies in What Is Mistaken for Weakness

The European Union is not, and should not aspire to be, an empire. It is not designed for rapid power projection, personal rule, or sphere-based domination. Its strength lies in what is often misinterpreted as weakness: institutions, the rule of law, compromise, long-termism, and predictability.

Precisely for that reason, the EU poses a systemic challenge to authoritarian models. A political system that demonstrates prosperity, security, and influence without imperialism or repression threatens regimes built on coercion, loyalty networks, and transactional power.

That is why the EU must constantly be diminished, ridiculed, or reduced to “just a market.”

 

"Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony – a reminder that Europe is built on human dignity, freedom and cooperation, not spheres of power."

The Real Balancing Act

The most difficult challenge for Europe is not whether to respond, but how.

Protecting democracy is essential. Safeguarding elections from foreign interference is essential. Defending information systems, political finance, and institutional integrity is essential.

But there is a crucial distinction between:

• defending democratic processes, and

• controlling opinions or political outcomes.

When democracies begin to police dissent, restrict freedom of expression, or normalise permanent emergency powers, they risk moving toward the very models they claim to oppose.

Populism and the Coming Test

The years ahead—marked by critical elections across Europe—will test democratic resilience. Populist movements, often aligned with or beneficial to authoritarian interests, will seek to exploit economic insecurity, identity politics, and declining trust in institutions.

It is tempting to respond with swift, forceful measures. Yet history suggests that populism is rarely defeated through bans or moral panic. It is countered through delivery: jobs, security, fair transitions, and institutions that are perceived as legitimate, competent, and responsive.

Choosing the Harder Path

Europe faces a choice. The easier path is to react reflexively, allowing opponents to define the agenda and gradually compromising principles in the name of effectiveness. The harder path is to uphold the rule of law, democracy, and openness—even when doing so is slow, uncomfortable, and politically costly.

It is the harder path that has allowed Europe to overcome previous crises. And it is the only path that truly distinguishes democratic governance from the authoritarian systems now seeking its failure.

Democracy’s strength does not lie in always appearing strong.

It lies in surviving its adversaries without becoming like them.

Mathias Knutsson