Impact of a Less Democratic U.S. on Europe's Political Landscape
The United States, traditionally a beacon of democracy, is experiencing a significant transformation under President Donald Trump. Here's a look at some of the key changes and their potential impact on Europe.
Shrinking National Security Staff and U.S. Presence Abroad
The White House National Security staff has seen a 60 percent decrease this year, diminishing the U.S. presence in many parts of the foreign policy domain. This reduction in diplomatic capacity has led to less U.S. involvement in global governance issues.
Alignment with Illiberal Right-Wing Parties
Under Trump's leadership, the U.S. government is seeking to bolster illiberal right-wing parties or politicians in countries like France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom. This move has raised concerns about democratic erosion, as the U.S. democratic system bears significant resemblance to what has occurred in countries like Hungary and India.
Suppression of Empirical Assessments
The administration has punished intelligence officials who present empirical assessments that run contrary to the political views of senior Trump officials. This action has been criticised as a violation of democratic norms and the independence of government agencies.
European Responses
In Europe, there is no prominent figure directly engaged in current negotiations specifically countering the democratic decline felt in the USA under President Trump. Instead, European responses include political and diplomatic actions such as Switzerland losing its traditional neutral mediator role and imposing EU sanctions. However, no specific negotiator opposing the US democratic regression has been named.
Pressure on Social Media Platforms
Trump has also put pressure on European efforts to moderate social media platforms. This pressure could have far-reaching implications for free speech and democratic processes in Europe.
Hyper-Presidential System and Executive Aggrandizement
The U.S. political system has been transformed into a hyper-presidential one, with few constraints on the president from within the executive branch or from other branches of government. Trump's actions combine asserting total presidential control over the executive branch, sidelining or cowing the other main branches of government, and constraining societal opposition. This shift towards executive aggrandizement has asphyxiated democratic norms and institutions in the U.S.
Domestic Policing and Legal Retribution
Trump has deployed the National Guard to Washington, DC for domestic policing purposes. He has also engaged in repeated acts of legal retribution against critics and those who do not cede to his demands. These actions have raised concerns about the erosion of civil liberties in the U.S.
U.S. Withdrawal from Global Democracy Support
The U.S. withdrawal from its traditional role as a global democracy supporter is evident in its pullback from democracy assistance, dismantling diplomatic capacity, and disbanding global broadcasting. This move has left a void that Europe may need to fill.
Opportunities for Europe
The many implications of U.S. democratic backsliding for Europe represent a daunting, even foreboding, new reality. However, they also offer opportunities for Europe to step up in meaningful ways. Europe faces a profound choice in the domain of democracy support, either narrowing its foreign policy interests or recognizing the need and opportunity for increased democracy support.
This shift in the U.S. democratic landscape could have profound implications for Europe, particularly in areas of global governance, migration, sustainable development, global environmental change, and peacekeeping. It remains to be seen how Europe will respond to these challenges and opportunities.
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