Report: Lecture: Is the US declining? The post-Obama World Order

On Monday evening in the beginning of March, SIB-Amsterdam organised a lecture on how the US power might be changing in the post-Obama era. During this evening, three speakers had the opportunity to share their thoughts with the general public on the elections.

Prof. Dr. Scott-Smith introduced us to the US elections and foreign policy. He explained that there are different frames through which the US can approach its foreign policy. These frames were isolationism, liberal internationalism, primacy and selective engagement/offshore balancing. During the Obama era, none of these single frames actually fit, according to Scott-Smith. All positions come back in his foreign policy. Scott-Smith also introduced us with the statements with the candidates for the elections and how they are different and how they are similar.

Mr. Petersen, a journalist specialised on the US, showed us how the elections actually work. He showed us the dates of important events in the US elections. He emphasised that Mr. Donald Trump is gaining more support from the so-called “missing white folder”, the people that usually do not vote during presidential elections. Donald Trump actually succeeded in mobilising them for the elections and this could work in his benefit, according to Petersen.

Our last speaker was Mr. Verhagen, also a journalist specialised on the US. According to Verhagen, Obama’s era was a successful presidency. Obama introduced ‘Obama Care’, he withdrew from the Middle East and he opened up relations with Cuba. However, according to Verhagen the political parallelisation has grown worse since the Republicans obstructed Obama during his presidency. According to Verhagen, Trump mobilises mainly angry voters. Bernie Sanders is mainly getting support from the unhappy white working class, according to him.