According to some observers normalcy only returned to the United States in January 2021 with Biden’s inauguration, but have recent years, particularly those since 2016, really warranted the claims of decline of the USA and end of ‘the West’?

In recent years, observers have repeatedly proclaimed the end of ‘the West’ and mused about the decline of the United States. Particularly following the twin shocks of 2016 – Brexit and the election of Donald Trump – the concept of a unified transatlantic community seemed to be a relic of an increasingly distant past. By 2020 all seemed to hinge on which way the American electorate would go. Normalcy, it seemed, only returned on January 20 2021 with Joe Biden’s inauguration.

But to what extent were the last four years exceptional? In fact, as Jussi Hanhimäki argues, the vacillation between crisis and cooperation has been the normal state of affairs in transatlantic relations for decades. The Trump era illustrated the continued strength of the 21st century transatlantic relationship. Notwithstanding the often-outlandish rhetoric, the fundamentals – NATO and economic ties – remained strong. The rise of populism evinced how closely integrated the transatlantic political space has become. COVID-19 halted transatlantic travel but did little to undermine the existence of a transatlantic community. The Trump years may have tested the patience of many pundits, diplomats and policymakers. But the reality is that America never ‘left.’

Meet the speakers

Rosa Balfour is director of Carnegie Europe. Her fields of expertise include European politics, institutions, and foreign and security policy. Her current research focuses on the relationship between domestic politics and Europe’s global role.

Michael Cox is a Founding Director of LSE IDEAS and Emeritus Professor of International Relations at LSE.

Jussi M. Hanhimäki is Professor of International History and Politics at the Graduate Institute, Geneva. His main research interests include American foreign policy, transatlantic relations, international institutions, and cold war history. Among his books are: The Flawed Architect: Henry Kissinger and American Foreign Policy (2004); International History of the Twentieth Century and Beyond (2015); United Nations: A Very Short Introduction (2008, 2015). Jussi's latest book, Pax Transatlantica: America and Europe in the Post-Cold War Era (2021), is available here.

Meet the chair

Christopher Coker is Director of LSE IDEAS.