Editorial
Dear Progressives,
today, the knife-edge US presidential race will draw to a close. It is not just the opinion polls that party way on the outcome of the election but also the consequences it may have for Europe if it goes either way. Another Trump presidency may be damaging if not traumatic for the democracy in the US and beyond as well as the transatlantic relations. Trump’s autocratic, xenophobic, election-denying and misogynistic politics of division is poison for the US democracy and will give other right wing populists back wind. His unabashed unilateralism, affection for autocratic strongmen and inflammatory style of diplomacy would mean another severe shake up of the US-EU relations.
In that case, Europe and advocates of the transatlantic relations must keep a cool head. And they would have to rise to the challenge, taking bold action defending democracy and the security interests that Europe and the US share alike. Hitting back hard in a trade conflict with the US will not leave an impression with Trump. If it is one thing that we should have learned from populists in power, it is that the mantra of “it’s the economy, stupid” no longer prevails. Instead, European leaders should pursue a three-way strategy of strengthening relations with US federal states, defending the rule of law and bridging divisions internally.
In this newsletter, we feature three pieces from Germany and Europe as well as from the USA, who have a closer look at the swing states; voices that, with empathetic seriousness, seek an answer to the question of how progressives can strengthen democratic ties and how a potential Harris administration can address the root causes of Trumpism.
Last but not least, join us for a US Election Debrief with Metin Hakverdi (MP SPD, German Bundestag), Scott Holcomb (Member of the Georgia House of Representatives) and Leslie Herod (Member of the Colorado House of Representatives) on Friday evening, 8 November. Sign up now!
We look forward to seeing you!
Florian Ranft & Maria Menzel-Meyer
