Dossier

Rebuilding Transatlantic relations

On 20 January 2021, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris respectively became President and Vice-President of the United States of America. The new administration faces great challenges after four years of Trump-fuelled divisions and threats to the Rule of Law, as well as the ravaging effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. How will the USA recover its economy, overcome social and political polarisation and regain trust at global level? How will Transatlantic relations be rebuilt? Contributions from our foreign offices and partners.

An historic opportunity on an unstable footing: the new US government and the global order

Commentary

The election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is an historic opportunity. They both stand for a political commitment to liberal democracy and a societal commitment to unity instead of division. Democracy instead of autocracy, cooperation instead of divisiveness and nationalism: these are also the most important political fault lines for the shaping of the future global order.

By Bastian Hermisson

After the US elections 2020: “Europeans shared a collective sigh of relief”

Interview

Eva van de Rakt, director of our Brussels office, interviewed Reinhard Bütikofer (Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA) about the US election results, the priorities of the Biden-Harris administration, and the future of the transatlantic relationship.

By Eva van de Rakt

Climate

Biden’s Climate Plan: Hope Alone or a Turning Point?

Analysis

One of Joe Biden’s first acts after he entered the White House was to sign a series of climate-related executive orders, signalling a clear intention to waste no time in reversing the destructive policies of his predecessor. Reflecting the urgency of the matter, the new US president has presented the most ambitious climate plan to date. What has he promised, and which measures can be implemented – and how quickly?

By Nora Löhle

Emissions rise above the US Steel Corporation Midwest Plant.

"Build Back Greener? "Biden's Plan for America's International Climate Commitment

Commentary

"Build back better" has been Joe Biden’s campaign promise. Climate policy is central to this, both in domestic and foreign policy. Ultimately, it is also a question of whether the Biden government can succeed in regaining lost credibility on the international stage.

By Liane Schalatek

Something About Climate Change or Some Other Thing on CNN

Hold the malarkey: the world cannot afford more American “leadership” on climate change

Commentary

The first American presidential candidate to put tackling climate change at the heart of his campaign, Joe Biden has boasted that his victory will return America to a position of global leadership. But first he needs to set an example to follow.

By L. Michael Buchsbaum

Digitalisation

Old pals, a new tone: Biden and the tech industry

Analysis

Silicon Valley businesses will be able to re-establish old connections within the Biden-Harris government. Civil society organisations are warning that Big Tech will have too much influence in the political discourse. But there will be no return to the Obama era – from competition law to data protection, the sector will have to expect tougher rules.

By Sabine Muscat

Covid-19 tracing apps may see renewed push under Joe Biden

Analysis

US President-elect Joe Biden is preparing for a long-overdue national effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. That may include facilitating and promoting widespread use of smartphone-based tracing apps that have been developed and distributed in a state-by-state patchwork.

By Gopal Ratnam

Mark Zuckerberg in the European Parliament

It's time for a transatlantic digital agenda

Commentary

The pandemic-driven boost of digital innovation holds opportunities, but it needs a sound political framework. From countering disinformation to preventing algorithmic discrimination, the U.S. and the EU need to work together to set the rules for our digital economies and societies.

By Felix Reda

Politics

US election 2020: Of winning a victory for liberal democracy - and inheriting a pile of rubble

Analysis

The election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is a significant victory for liberal democracy in the US and for a policy of compassion and cooperation. At the same time, the new government is facing a political pile of rubble full of enormous challenges.

By Bastian Hermisson

“Trump’s election defeat won’t end structural racism”

Interview

The murder of George Floyd has thrown the United States into a state of unrest. President Trump is throwing fuel on the fire in an attempt to increase his re-election chances. The main problem, however, is historical, structural racism – and not just in the U.S. An interview with Bastian Hermisson, Head of the Foundation’s office in Washington, and Mekonnen Mesghena, Head of Migration and Diversity at the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin.

By Bastian Hermisson and Mekonnen Mesghena

Picture of Earth with the corona virus around it

Between confrontation and cooperation: Coronavirus and the international order

Analysis

The coronavirus crisis comes at a time when the international order is already under stress, mainly driven by a new rivalry between “great powers”. Coronavirus could either exacerbate this trend, or it could breathe new life into international cooperation. Another possibility is that rivalry will remain central to the coming order, but one in which democracies come closer together to push back against autocratic bids for global power and influence. A geopolitical analysis.

By Dr. Ulrich Speck

Covid-19

MTA New York City Transit Sanitizes Stations and Subway Cars

The coronavirus crisis: Where the Trump administration went wrong

Background

The US government’s crisis management has been a disaster so far. Donald Trump has three basic tendencies, which have served him well in the past as a populist, but which will cause severe damage to the US population in this situation and may usher in the end of his political career.

By Bastian Hermisson

Michigan National Guard assist around 400 families during COVID-19 response

The social dimension of the coronavirus crisis in the USA

Analysis

The coronavirus crisis is leading to massive social distortions in the US. It is increasing the existing structural inequalities and discriminations in the US economy and society.

By Bastian Hermisson

Transatlantic Relations in the Post-Pandemic World

Essay

Even before the outbreak of the pandemic, the transatlantic community faced enormous domestic and geopolitical challenges. The pandemic reinforces these tendencies and at the same time makes it clear why cooperation will remain essential in the future.

By Torrey Taussig

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Shaping the Future of Multilateralism

Publication series

Global governance is the challenge of this decade. The international system has been ill-equipped to deal with the parallel and intersecting crises of the Covid-19 pandemic, rising debt levels and accelerating climate change. This publication series explores pathways to a just, sustainable and democratic international order that takes into account the needs and priorities of countries with emerging and developing economies and the most vulnerable people and communities.

The global impacts of Covid-19

Dossier

Contributions from the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung foreign offices and partners regarding the social, economic and political impacts of the Covid-19 global pandemic.

The Paris Agreement five years on

Dossier

On the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, where are we at when it comes to fighting the climate crisis in a spirit of climate justice? How can we increase targets to remain below 2 degrees global warming and finds ways to achieve them in a socially just manner?

21st Foreign Policy Conference

Dossier

Worldwide we are witnessing the return to great power rivalry, and – as a reaction – the calls for strategic sovereignty of the European Union are gaining strength. But how can the EU navigate through a more competitive world and maintain its core values at the same time? These questions are at the core of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's 21st Foreign Policy Conference.

Reinventing Transatlantic Relations on Climate, Democracy, and Technology

Working Paper

While the election of Joe Biden to the U.S. presidency presents an opening to restore the transatlantic relationship after Donald Trump, the real question facing U.S. and European officials is whether they can successfully manage to advance a new transatlantic agenda for the coming decade.

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Privacy in the EU and US

Study

This research examines how aspects of privacy and data protection are working for consumers in two major economic areas – the EU and the US. Both have high levels of digital use, and major online providers offer very similar services in both regions. However, their legal approach to data protection and privacy are very different: while the EU has a general data protection law, the US to-date has not enacted such an all-encompassing law at the federal level.dig

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Dossier

Rebuilding Transatlantic relations

Why we need to strengthen our partnership with the US right now

Looking ahead - Europe’s offer for a new transatlantic agenda

Civil Society Must Be at the Heart of a Renewed Transatlantic Solidarity

A Democratic Counteroffer to China’s Digital Power

An historic opportunity on an unstable footing: the new US government and the global order

After the US elections 2020: “Europeans shared a collective sigh of relief”

Climate

Biden’s Climate Plan: Hope Alone or a Turning Point?

"Build Back Greener? "Biden's Plan for America's International Climate Commitment

Hold the malarkey: the world cannot afford more American “leadership” on climate change

Digitalisation

Old pals, a new tone: Biden and the tech industry

Covid-19 tracing apps may see renewed push under Joe Biden

It's time for a transatlantic digital agenda

Politics

US election 2020: Of winning a victory for liberal democracy - and inheriting a pile of rubble

“Trump’s election defeat won’t end structural racism”

Between confrontation and cooperation: Coronavirus and the international order

Covid-19

The coronavirus crisis: Where the Trump administration went wrong

The social dimension of the coronavirus crisis in the USA

Transatlantic Relations in the Post-Pandemic World

Related content

Shaping the Future of Multilateralism

The global impacts of Covid-19

The Paris Agreement five years on

21st Foreign Policy Conference

Reinventing Transatlantic Relations on Climate, Democracy, and Technology

Privacy in the EU and US