Can democracy survive in the changing world order amidst the US’ America First Policy?

The Democracy Forum and TDF President Lord Bruce invite you to a live webinar,
'Can democracy survive in the changing world order amidst the US’ America First Policy?’
on
Wednesday April 23rd, 2025
2-3.30pm UK time (BST)

Moderator
Humphrey Hawksley, Author & former BBC Asia Correspondent

Panellists
Dr Dawn Brancati, Senior Lecturer in International and Public Affairs at the Watson Institute for International & Public Affairs, Brown University
Prof. Richard Youngs, Senior Fellow on the Democracy, Conflict and Governance Program at Carnegie Europe
Prof. Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy, University of Birmingham; Director of the Centre for Elections, Democracy, Accountability
and Representation (CEDAR)
Prof. Giselle Bosse, Full Professor in EU External Democracy Promotion & Jean Monnet Chair in EU International Relations, Maastricht University

• Humphrey Hawksley (Host) – 00:47
• Introduces the webinar and frames the key question: Can democracy, defined by elections, accountability, and transparency, survive amid America's inward shift and rising voices from the Global South?
• Lord Charles Bruce – 01:44
• Argues that the U.S. under Trump has become a geopolitical disruptor, undermining global norms, supporting autocrats (e.g., Israel, Hungary, Turkey), and encouraging authoritarian behavior globally.
• Prof Richard Youngs – 09:05
• Optimistically claims that democracy can survive due to global civic activism and new democratic experiments, despite persistent challenges. Notes that we're in a time of democratic action, not apathy.
• Prof. Giselle Bosse – 19:41
• Discusses the EU’s internal-external democracy paradox, highlighting how internal backsliding weakens its external democratic influence. Emphasizes democratic resilience lies in transparency and civic engagement.
• Dr Dawn Brancati – 40:19
• Points out that U.S. foreign policy has always prioritized national interests. Notes that Trump’s policies weakened democratic aid abroad, especially in places like Malawi, leading to less media freedom and democratic oversight.
• Prof Nic Cheeseman – 50:06
• Warns of the growing influence of authoritarian middle powers like UAE and Turkey. Highlights cross-border repression and corruption as tools weakening global democracy and affecting even UK institutions.
• Panel Discussion (Various) – 57:19
• Discusses real-world effects: U.S. aid cuts during Trump harmed democracies like Malawi. The decline in support affected election quality and civic institutions, but internal democratic resilience persisted.
• Cheeseman & Panel – 1:03:49
• Stresses that China and Russia can "deliver," but democracies offer better long-term governance. Calls for democratic alliances and understanding the erosion of democracy as a security risk.
• Prof Giselle Bosse – 1:10:30
• Suggests the EU should amplify democratic promotion without neocolonial undertones. Argues that true change comes from grassroots civic agency, not top-down interventions.
• Final Roundtable – 1:19:59 to 1:26:59
• Concludes that democracy is inherently a struggle. It will survive if civic agency and institutions hold. Democratic quality will fluctuate, but protest movements and court rulings show democracy’s resilience.
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Видео Can democracy survive in the changing world order amidst the US’ America First Policy? канала The Democracy Forum