President-elect Joe Biden has said he will put democracy front and centre of US foreign policy. But after the turbulence of recent years, reversing the global trend towards autocracy will need a strategy and strong alliances. What do we know about his plans?
It is tempting to think that the Biden administration will simply turn back the clock in its foreign policy – re-joining the WHO, re-committing to the Paris Climate Accords, re-starting the Iran agreement, and renewing U.S. support for NATO and the rules-based international system. But the global context has evolved since Biden was last in the White House and his pledge to host a Summit of Democracies is a clear signal that he sees a decline in democratic values as a threat to US and Western interests. If the Summit is held while the UK is chairing the G7 and COP26 next year, then transatlantic collaboration will be key to its success.
Join us in this live online event as our top guests unpack and explain the key pillars of Biden’s plans to rebuild global democracy and the transatlantic dynamics. Our panellists are either directly engaged in this planning or close observers and can shed light on the key priorities, including human rights, corruption, countering hostile states, and tackling climate change. They can also discuss the mechanics of the transition from the Trump administration and what we can expect over the coming months.
Speakers
- Dr Frances Z. Brown, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Alex Thier, Senior Democracy Fellow, Freedom House
- Anthony Smith, Chief Executive, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (Chair)