Since the re-election of President Donald Trump, academic freedom in the USA has faced considerable threats. The government has made extensive cuts to funding for prestigious universities, ended programmes to promote diversity, equality and inclusion, put academic institutions under pressure and laid off thousands of employees. Scientists across the country have demonstrated against the government's policies, internationally renowned researchers are already leaving the country and spoke of a ‘climate of fear’ in an open letter. 

In the panel discussion, experts from SCRIPTS and partner institutions will shed light on the causes and consequences of these developments from a scientific perspective and discuss how Europe can respond to them.

The event marks the start of the new SCRIPTS series ‘Focus USA’, which addresses the various aspects of the disruption triggered by Donald Trump's administration.

The panellists are:

• Prof. Dr Tanja Börzel (Freie Universität Berlin, SCRIPTS)
• Prof. Dr Mattias Kumm (WZB Berlin Social Science Center, SCRIPTS)
• Rachel Tausendfreund (German Council on Foreign Relations)
• Prof. Lora Viola, PhD. (Freie Universität Berlin, SCRIPTS)
• Prof. Kathrin Zippel, PhD (Freie Universität Berlin, SCRIPTS)

Moderation: Katja Weber

Admission is free - registration requested by 03 June 2025.

The event will be held in German.