This study is a brief excerpt from a larger conference paper on the domestic sources of U.S. foreign policy and hegemony. It shows how the personality of Donald Trump affects U.S. foreign policy and prevents international cooperation as well as possible successes.
Download the study here.
The United States under the Trump presidency along with other democracies led by authoritarian leaders raise concerns that even consolidated democracies do not live forever. This article starts with a recently published book titled “how democracies die” and demonstrates how seemingly stable democratic systems might erode, how such processes develop and how erosion might be stopped.
Moreover, the article argues that not only authoritarian leaders such as Donald Trump jeopardize democracy. Some studies also point to the corrosive effects of wealthy elites who are in a much better position of pursuing their interests than ordinary citizens. These analyses raise doubts about democracy as government of for and by the people.
The article starts with the scholarly debate on the book “how democracies die.” It continues describing what other deficiencies impair American politics. Finally, it evaluates the findings in light of democratic theory. It uses an interdisciplinary perspective by invoking insights from comparative democracy research, international relations, economics and development research.
The full text (in German only) is published in: Politische Vierteljahresschrift Vol. 60, No 2, 2019.
West Europeans and Germans minimally shake their heads when asked what they think of Donald Trump. He is even less popular than George W. Bush in Europe. Without doubt, Trump damaged the global reputation of the United States as a world leader. Continuous public opinion surveys demonstrate that America was never held in a regard over 50% of the people interviewed internationally. However, during the Obama presidency the number of those who approved American leadership was consistently higher than those who disapproved it. In the United States, Trump reaches similarly low approval ratings. In the mid-term elections of November 2018 his Republican Party suffered a severe setback as it lost the majority in the House of Representatives. Given the strong opposition against his presidency it is extremely puzzling how Donald Trump retains political power and maintains his most controversial style of conduct undisturbed. In order to understand his grand standing it is important acknowledging that a group of extremely loyal supporters stand behind him and his presidency. This article (available in German only) sheds light on this loyal group of supporters and shows what they think.
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