The U.S. presidential election this year will have the greatest potential impact on democratic movements and institutions around the world. American voters have now chosen two candidates for the office with two different attitudes toward the traditional global order, democratic governance, and the rule of law. To underline the implications on democratic norms globally, the Center for the Study of Democracy organized the online discussion “The U.S. Presidential Election: What’s at Stake for Democracy Globally”, held on April 8.
The event brought together star line-up from the Wall Street Journal:
John Bussey, Associate Editor – New York, The Wall Street Journal;
Aaron Zitner, Reporter and Editor, Washington Bureau – Washington, D.C., The Wall Street Journal;
Gerald F. Seib, Former Washington Bureau Chief – Washington D.C., The Wall Street Journal; and
Deborah Ball, Deputy Editor of World News – London, The Wall Street Journal.
The discussion highlighted the political shift from Ronald Reagan's conservatism to Donald Trump's populism in the U.S., underscoring a dramatic change where the Republican Party now appeals more to a working-class demographic, marking a departure from its traditional base. This shift is intertwined with broader global phenomena such as economic globalization, the 2008 financial crisis, unresolved immigration issues, and a surge in populism, all of which pose significant challenges to the fabric of democracy.