The US is about to hold hugely important elections. A candidate who has repeatedly praised dictators and demonstrated an affinity for authoritarianism has serious prospects of winning. If he prevails, the global role of the US is likely to profoundly change and America may be on its way to becoming an illiberal democracy. How this might play out in detail remains to be seen, as much depends on which party will control Congress.
The EU also has experience with illiberal democracies, and recent elections have further strengthened illiberal forces from the far-right. Threats such as these on both sides of the Atlantic could weaken democracy globally, posing a threat to the liberal world order that has held since the end of World War II.
Whatever the outcome of the US elections, we will examine the implications for the EU going forward. Can the EU serve as a global champion of democracy if the US retreats? Can the EU increase its presence on the world stage and step in to fill a possible void left by the US? How would the EU respond to new security threats by authoritarian regimes emboldened by America’s inward shift?
Join our panel of experts online on 12 November after the US elections to hear their thoughts on all these important questions and more, as we try to chart a path forward for democracy globally, especially in the US and the EU.
