21st century Quote by Rich Lowry
“We believe in the power of 21st-century international norms. Russian President Vladimir Putin believes in the power of lies and brute force, and implicitly asks, in the spirit of Josef Stalin, 'How many divisions do international norms have?'”
About This Quote
International norms rely on collective belief, while authoritarian leaders may undermine them with deception and force.
In simple terms: Norms need trust; dictators exploit lies.
Support and defend shared norms.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- diplomacy
- policy making
- human rights advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies reinforce norms?
- What counters deceptive power?
Norms can be fragile under pressure.