In the current era of autocracy and empire, democracy is on the back foot. Autocratic regimes have become more resilient and cooperate with one another in directly undermining democratic societies. While the ‘Global South’ is rather indifferent to the democracy paradigm, the US under Trump has not only abandoned its role as a leading democracy supporter but is in some cases attacking open society. Democrats should strike back. The crisis must be turned into an opportunity. The defenders of liberal democracy should forcefully counter the new geopolitical pseudo-realism as well as anti-Western narratives. Supporting other democrats is not bonhomie, but in our own strategic interest. The weaknesses of autocracies need to be better pointed out. Democratic resilience at home and supporting democrats globally go together. The particular local conditions and interests in the target countries need to be better respected. Political diasporas should play a bigger role. The new push should be led by the EU and its member states and initiated by civil society, especially political parties. We should both use more resources and explore new methods of fundraising and institutional models. Viktor Orbán’s defeat in Hungary shows that the tables can indeed be turned on autocracy as well as empire.