This book provides a concise and engaging analysis of the particularly unusual 2020 election year in the USA. The political science perspective illuminates societal tensions in the context of the Corona pandemic and elaborates election-deciding discourses. Larger socio-political trends such as ideological polarisation are addressed as well as the different campaign strategies of the two parties. In addition, the book offers insights into the election results of this landmark presidential election for American society and for the development of its democracy. The final evaluation of the resulting implications for transatlantic relations rounds off the book.

Precise examination of domestic political dynamics in the USA Analytical review of the 2020 US presidential election Background analyses of social developments and discourses in the USA

Autorentext

Dr. Christiane Lemke ist Professorin für Politische Wissenschaft an der Universität Hannover und Sprecherin des Jean Monnet European Center of Excellence. Sie ist Max Weber Chair for European Politics an der New York University 2010-2012.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Joe Biden on the road to the nomination.- Voting in the shadow of the pandemic.- Democrats versus Republicans.- The polarisation and its manifestations.- Economic policy as a question of fate: The elections in the sign of the recession.- A society without a network: Social issues in the election campaign.- Minorities in the us: The controversial immigration debate.- The strategies in the 2020 election campaign.- The election results and their transatlantic implications.- Concluding reflections.