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The beginning of the end of democracy? How the US is sliding towards authoritarianism

October 9
20 mins

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Episode Description

The US seems to be moving from liberal democracy towards an authoritarian state. President Trump is undermining democratic norms and the rule of law. Johannes Thimm analyses whether US institutions are resilient enough to withstand his second term and what the erosion of democracy means for Europe.

Guest: Johannes Thimm is Deputy Head of The Americas Research Division at SWP. His work focuses on the link between US domestic and foreign policy and on transatlantic relations.

Host: Esme Nicholson

Recommended Reading (publications in German): Sascha Lohmann, Johannes Thimm: Amerikapolitik als akute Aufgabe: Zu den Implikationen der US-Innenpolitik für Deutschland und Europa, in: Laura von Daniels, Stefan Mair (Hg.): Trumps Rückkehr und Europas außenpolitische Herausforderungen, SWP-Studie 2025/S 03, 12.02.2025, S. 9–13

Marco Overhaus, Johannes Thimm: USA: Die Wahlen 2024 und der Schatten einer illiberalen Außenpolitik, in: Barbara Lippert, Stefan Mair (Hg.): Neue Verhältnisse – schwierige Beziehungen, SWP-Studie 2024/S 24, 17.12.2024, S. 14–18

Marco Overhaus, Johannes Thimm: Die USA auf dem Weg in die Systemkrise. Warum demokratische Institutionen erodieren, SWP-Aktuell 2024/A 16, 11.03.2024

Marco Overhaus, Johannes Thimm: US-Präsidentschaftswahl 2024: Vorbild-Demokratie am Kipppunkt?, SWP-Podcast 2024/P 05, 04.03.2024

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