Democrophilia Undermines Power

An excessive, moralized preference for democracy as the default aim of foreign policy ('democrophilia') can delegitimize pragmatic alliances and hamper a state's ability to counter strategic rivals. Framing every use of power through a democracy‑promotion lens turns prudential statecraft into a moral test, making coalition‑building and compromise harder during geopolitical competition. — If widespread, this mindset would shift debates about alliances, military aid, and intervention — pushing policy toward moral purism and away from strategic effectiveness in contests with authoritarian states like China.