Trumpism might represent an era in which the liberal claims of Western democracies come to a dead-end and this victory is a complete earthquake for U.S. elites
In the U.S., the media support, the votes of minorities and more importantly the efforts of liberal elites in Washington fell short of making Hillary Clinton the next president. Donald Trump has become the 45th president of the U.S. by retaining the majority of Republicans both in the senate and the House of Representatives.
While congratulating Trump, Clinton expressed her concerns: "We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought … We don't just respect that. We cherish it. It also enshrines the rule of law; the principle we are all equal in rights and dignity; freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend them," she said in her concession speech. President Barack Obama , who is preparing to pass the torch to Trump, also called on the people not to give way to despair. Such concerns are not without reason. The opponents to Trump, particularly the young, organized protests in cities such as Washington, D.C., Oakland, Orlando, Los Angeles, Boston and New York carrying placards that read, "He's not my president."
We will keep talking about the crisis and divisions in U.S. democracy and the phenomenon of Trumpism for a long while.
However, the fact they were hiding from the world was evident. Trump articulated the "anti-system" feelings of white Americans that have grown since the economic crisis in 2008. He combined some economic expectations with the argument that institutions and politicians have degenerated. However, media and poll firms could not see the winds of change. Or maybe they did not want to see it.
They were either alienated from society to such a degree that they could not even see the division and white anger in the U.S., or they concealed that fact on purpose by endorsing Clinton with the aim of stopping the wave that brought Trump forward. In this sense, Trump's victory is not a surprise for U.S. society. But it is a complete earthquake for U.S. elites. So, what awaits the world in political and economic terms during Trump's presidency?
Trump's essential concern is to prioritize some specific economic interests and to renegotiate the trade agreements with the Asia Pacific region and Europe within this scope. In my opinion, the Washington elites' efforts to rein Trump will be the least effective in the economy.
The protectionist economic tendencies that will be led by the U.S. are likely to have profound effects on the world. Consequently, Trump might start a new wave of nationalism based on economic grounds. This movement, which might be called Trumpism, may not only bring macro changes in finance but also transform the global political role of the U.S. that changed with the end of the Cold War and the Sept. 11 attacks.
By combining the statements of Republicans and Democrats on the global role of the U.S., Trump might create a new populist synthesis. In other words, by leaving the role of global military policeman, the U.S. might engage in more aggressive interventions when "narrow" national interests necessitate it. With its populist and outspoken character and its motivation to "make America great again," Trumpism might represent an era in which the liberal claims of Western democracies come to a dead-end. A phase might follow in which U.S. democracy, which was stained with the catastrophe created by Obama's policy on the Arab uprisings, will not have any moral supremacy left.
The second aspect Trump is expected to differ from his predecessors on is with regard to the relations he created with great forces and allies. China might be restricted in terms of commercial activity and on the matter of cyberattacks. Trump is required to seek new ground in competition and cooperation with Russia.
It is highly probable that the Republican elite's ideas on "the Russian threat" might contradict Trump's pragmatism. Also, Europe and Germany might have to increase their defense expenditures. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg already said that Trump is totally right in his objection that European countries spend less on common defense expenditures. The financial pressure on Europe might negatively influence the future of the European Union.
A more ambiguous period is about to start for the regional allies that were neglected during Obama's term, such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Turkey.
I will focus on this aspect in my next article.
About the author
Burhanettin Duran is General Coordinator of SETA Foundation and a professor at Social Sciences University of Ankara. He is also a member of Turkish Presidency Security and Foreign Policies Council.
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