Keeper of the peace
Well into the 20th century, the United States remained mostly aloof. They had fought in World War I after long hesitation, but it was only towards the end of World War II that the United States began to see itself as the guardian of international peace. 'In 1945, the US initiated the UN and in 1949 the creation of NATO. Since then, it has championed an international order that eliminates war and defends democracy, the rule of law and human rights.’
Today, that sentiment is still alive in the United States At the same time, the old sentiment, that the United States has no international responsibility and should look after itself first and foremost, is gaining popularity again. 'Actually, after the fall of the wall, you already saw a so-called “Atlantic drift” emerge. America was removing troops from Europe and grumbling about the high cost of NATO.’
America as an example
You can also see these two sentiments in current election campaigns 'The Republicans have little use for the current international order, while the Democrats want to uphold the post-war community of values. Depending on the election results, we as Europe will either have a stable ally or a country that says “figure it out”.’
At a time when democracy as a form of government is under pressure and autocracies are gaining influence worldwide, the outcome of these elections could be significant, Verheul believes 'In the 19th and 20th centuries, the US was a model democracy and many countries followed the US example by opting for a democratic form of government.’
Conversely, if Trump wins the election and chooses a more autocratic course, for example by undermining the independence of the judiciary, sabotaging the elections or running for an extra term in office, it could also be a fatal example 'If Trump wins, democracy could suffer serious damage.’
A new champion of democracy
Although the stakes are high, Verheul, as a historian, knows that political turnarounds have long roots and rarely stem from a single concrete event, such as an election result. ‘If Trump wins, it does not mean that all democratic forces in America disappear, nor does it mean that populist Trumpism disappears if he loses.’
Should the United States withdraw from the international stage, Verheul sees a responsibility for European countries. 'The EU sometimes seems an unwieldy organisation, but it can be a very powerful engine, especially in cooperation with democratic countries like Canada, Australia, Taiwan and South Korea Should America stop acting as a champion of democracy, Europe can take that position.’
Read more about the US election
On November 5, 2024, the United States will elect a new president. Will Donald Trump or Kamala Harris win this race for the presidency? And how do our researchers interpret this significant event? You can read everything about it on Radboud Recharge!
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Photo: Mathias Reding via Unsplash
