America’s Next President: How Will the Election Shape the Future? | Current Affairs Lecture with political scientist Chris Nijhuis and historian Jaap Verheul

Announcement

How will the outcome of the US election affect US politics, international relations, and democracy? Come and listen to political scientists Chris Nijhuis and Jaap Verheul explain the denouement of the US presidential election the day after the election.

Implications for democracy 

Would a Donald Trump victory further undermine democratic norms in the US, given his previous attempts to question election results and increase the president's power? And what kind of signal would this send to other countries? And if Trump loses, what should we consider?

If Kamala Harris wins, what course will she take and does she have the power to make real changes? How realistic are Donald Trump's plans, and what are the chances of them being realised? In both cases, the outcome will depend on who secures the majority in the Senate and House of Representatives. And then there is the Supreme Court: will the conservative majority remain intact, will it grow, or will the proportions become more balanced?

International relations

The United States has played a major role on the world political stage for decades. But if Trump wins the election, that may well change. What does the result mean for international relations, and in particular for the relationship between the US and Europe? Where should Europe stand if the US decides to withdraw from international partnerships?

Bring your sandwiches, ask your questions, and look at the news from a different angle.   

This Current Affairs Lecture will be held in English.

About the speakers

Chris Nijhuis is a political scientist at Radboud University. He is an expert on American politics.

Jaap Verheul is endowed professor of Transatlantic Relations at Radboud University in Nijmegen. He is an expert on the relations between Europe and the US, and the cultural history of the US.