NATO’s Betrayal of Democracy: How Europe Silences Its Populist Right

The North Atlantic Treaty was signed in 1949 with a solemn pledge: NATO members would not only defend one another against external aggression, they would safeguard “the freedom, common heritage and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law.” These words matter. They mean that NATO is not simply a military alliance, it is a union of democracies. Its credibility rests on the idea that members govern themselves with the very liberties they claim to defend. Yet in recent years, several NATO states have drifted from these commitments, especially when confronted...