Populism and US foreign policy: Donald Trump’s presidency case
Rapporteur: Lev Sokolshchik, Candidate of history science, research fellow, Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS), National Research University Higher School of Economics (NRU HSE)
The recent electoral success of populists on both sides of the Atlantic rises questions not only about the liberal democracy prospects, but also about the evolution of the system of international relations. The problem of populism’s effect on the American foreign policy formation came to the academic discussion forefront after the victory of Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. The study is based on an ideological approach to the definition of populism and the case study method.
The comprehensive analysis showed that the American version of right-wing populism accepted the paleoconservative ideas of isolationism and economic protectionism. Isolationism manifests in the priority of national interest and greater unilateralism in foreign policy. The isolationist trend has also found expression in the growing divergence between the US and its partners’ interests in politics, security and defense, also in the transformation of US–NATO relationships, in criticism of international organizations and integration projects. Economic protectionism manifests in the US withdrawal from the international agreements. Moreover, an attempt to defend the interests of “the American people” in the economic sphere leads to trade wars with the EU, China and partly India, the introduction of sanctions and tariff restrictions on certain countries, goods, and manufacturers.
In general, the effect of right-wing populism on the US foreign policy is manifested in increased unpredictability, personalism, and antipluralism. Right-wing populism opposes the liberal world order since in its foreign policy concept bases on the ideas of geopolitics, national interest and chaotic international competition.