Why Has the World Been More Protectionist?

I'm fighting for something that I really believe in. Free markets and free trade make the world a better place. That is the only purpose to becoming a politician. Why has the world become more protectionist? We live in uncertain times. A global pandemic, Russia's war in Ukraine and China are making people more fearful about the future. Relatively low economic growth in the West over recent decades compared to what people are used to has also caused a part of this problem. So if we are going to make people feel less protectionist, we're going to have to make them feel more secure first. Trade as a tool of security is at the very heart of the trade policy that I