Retrenchment from the Global Order? US Foreign Policy Under Trump and Beyond

Session Submission Type: In-Person Full Paper Panel

Session Description

Since World War II, the US has been a backbone if not hegemonic anchor of an international order characterized by liberal principles, including the respect for human rights and the rule of law, an open economic order, and multilateralism (liberal international order or LIO). While US hegemony has always been contested, US leadership in world affairs has been taken for granted for a long time. Over the past ten to fifteen years, however, we observe a gradual re-trenchment of this global leadership role. With its rejection of LIO, the Trump administration only accelerated this trend. Given the domestic polarization of US politics, it remains to be seen whether a Biden administration can reverse US retrenchment. The panel will discuss US foreign policy from a variety of perspectives and by putting current developments in a longer-term context. The papers by Börzel & Risse and Viola critically reflect on the myth of the US as a “liberal hegemon” during most of the post-WW II period. Börzel & Risse also look into the question whether the transatlantic security community is up to the task of global leadership. The paper by Anderson & Garrison investigates the domestic sources of US foreign policy. The paper by Covarrubias and Toro, finally reflects on US human rights and immigration policies as seen from the global South.

Sub Unit

• Division 20: Foreign Policy

Individual Presentations

• The Liberal International Order and the Transatlantic Security Community - Tanja A. Boerzel, Freie Universität Berlin; Thomas Risse, Freie Universität Berlin

• Trump in Perspective: US Views Toward the Liberal World Order - Stephanie Anderson, University of Wyoming; Jean Garrison, University of Wyoming

• The Illiberalism of America’s Liberal Internationalism - Lora Anne Viola, Free University of Berlin

• Immigration in U.S.-Mexico Relations: Do Human Rights Matter? - Ana Covarrubias, El Colegio de México; María-Celia Toro, El Colegio de Mexico

Chair

• Thomas Risse Freie Universität Berlin

Discussant

• G. John Ikenberry Princeton University