I suspect this mentality stems from liberal democracy being portrayed as the sole legitimate form of governance. It amounts to modern-day marketing for colonialism, masquerading western hegemony as benevolent civilizing missions. In this schema, the west can't be a belligerent by default because countries resisting western dominance are seen as being regressive and fighting progress towards the natural state of things. Western liberals are basically the borg.
That makes sense. It aligns with their perceptions of foreigners. If one assumes the natural inclination of humans is to desire some form of liberation democracy, then it follows that citizens of illiberal countries must either brutally repressed or complicit in their governments actions.
I suspect this mentality stems from liberal democracy being portrayed as the sole legitimate form of governance. It amounts to modern-day marketing for colonialism, masquerading western hegemony as benevolent civilizing missions. In this schema, the west can't be a belligerent by default because countries resisting western dominance are seen as being regressive and fighting progress towards the natural state of things. Western liberals are basically the borg.
That makes sense. It aligns with their perceptions of foreigners. If one assumes the natural inclination of humans is to desire some form of liberation democracy, then it follows that citizens of illiberal countries must either brutally repressed or complicit in their governments actions.