Discussion

This event draws from the new book Polarization and Deep Contestations: The Liberal Script in the United States, which explores the ideological and affective polarization affecting American democracy today. The speakers will delve into the key drivers of political polarization, comparing the situation in the United States to developments in Germany. They will discuss how these contestations impact US foreign policy, US-German relations, and the broader landscape of democracy. The book argues that the current crisis is marked not only by Donald Trump’s influence but also by deeper ideological divides. Each chapter addresses critical questions about the uniqueness of the US experience compared to other liberal democracies and examines the root causes of these contestations. We invite you to engage in this timely conversation, which will cover topics including the US public sphere, populism, the Supreme Court, and the role of Christian evangelicalism and African American contestations.

Speakers

Tanja A. Börzel, SCRIPTS director, Professor of Political Science, Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science, Freie Universität Berlin
Ralf Fücks, Managing Director of the Center for Liberal Modernity/Zentrum für Liberale Moderne
Chris Spear, President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations
Rachel Tausendfreund, Senior Research Fellow for Transatlantic Relations at DGAP

Moderated by Thomas Risse, Senior Professor of International Relations at SCRIPTS, Freie Universität Berlin; and Head of the DGAP Academic Advisory Committee

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• To attend, we kindly ask you to register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing further details.
• The event will be followed by a reception.