In its governmental guise, patrimonialism is distinguished by running the state as if it were the leader’s personal property or family business. It can be found in many countries, but its main contemporary exponent — at least until January 20, 2025 — has been Vladimir Putin.

Putin welcomed the idea of sweeping joint defense cuts and suggested the world's biggest defense spender could join.

Even before the new Trump administration began to erode U.S. influence on autocratic countries, a diverse array of experts started to rethink the future of global democracy.