KPFA - Womens Magazine Womens Magazine – January 5, 2026
Jan 5, 2026
Heather Cox Richardson, a renowned historian and author of 'Democracy Awakening', discusses the U.S. actions against Venezuela and their global implications. She explains how these actions undermine international norms and the rules-based order established after World War II. Richardson warns of the risks of authoritarianism fueled by foreign adventurism and urges civic engagement to uphold democracy. The conversation highlights the potential for corruption and the need for accountability in U.S. foreign policy, emphasizing the importance of defending constitutional rights.
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US Strike Threatens Post‑War Order
- Heather Cox Richardson frames the US strike on Venezuela as a fundamental break with the post‑WWII rules‑based international order.
- She warns this aligns the US with sphere‑of‑influence politics favored by leaders like Putin and risks global instability.
Why The Rules-Based Order Matters
- Richardson explains the rules‑based order arose after WWII to prevent great‑power conquest and nuclear catastrophe.
- She stresses respecting sovereignty prevented world wars and framed later interventions like the 1991 Gulf War.
Empowering Revisionist Powers
- Russia under Putin seeks to replace rules with spheres of influence, using force to reclaim territories like eastern Ukraine.
- Richardson argues U.S. actions that mirror this logic empower revisionist powers and weaken allied resistance.
