Did the ‘liberal world order’ ever exist?

I read the recent article by Mr Kagan lamenting the lack of the “liberal world order” and the failure to rein in despots, tyrants, et al, as it used to years ago. What came to mind was a large photograph that appeared on the front page of The Nation some years ago when President Barack Obama was touring Asia with his policy of “pivoting” towards the region. Obama was pictured bowing his head to former Khmer Rouge mass murderer Hun Sen and wife as the Cambodian premier grinned like a Cheshire cat. Talk about appeasement! 
I kind of doubt that President Trump would repeat the act. 
K Mephistopheles