Trump Takes Office: University of Bath Insights

Posted in: Culture and policy, Democracy and voter preference, Evidence and policymaking, Global politics, US politics

As the world watches Donald Trump take the oath of office, the implications of his presidency are already stirring debate across global political, social, and digital landscapes. Experts from the University of Bath provide their perspectives on the impact of Trump’s return to the White House, analysing shifts in U.S. international strategy, political polarisation, online extremism, and policy priorities. In this blog, we feature commentary from experts in the Department of Politics, Languages, and International Studies to the School of Management, these academics bring a wealth of expertise to dissect what Trump’s inauguration means for America and the wider world. Their insights explore how Trump’s approach to leadership, both domestically and internationally, could reshape alliances, disrupt norms, and redefine America’s place in the world.

 

Professor Timo Kivimaki from the Department of Politics, Languages, and International Studies researches international relations, conflicts and human rights. He can comment on global affairs, Russia-US relations, Ukraine-US relations, the Ukraine-Russia war and NATO. He said:

"Donald Trump’s presidency will bring a shift in the US's international strategy. As a businessman, Trump adopts a ‘relational’ view of international relations, believing that outcomes depend on the dynamics between nations. Instead of focusing on individual countries' actions, he looks at how interactions unfold, such as NATO’s expansion and its impact on Russia. He believes that for the US to curb Russia’s aggression, it must change its own behavior, not just focus on containment. This explains his skepticism about NATO’s expansion near Russia and his preference for diplomatic relations over military confrontation.

Trump also rejects the notion of moral responsibility in global affairs. He sees international relations as driven by self-interest, where each country acts in its own best interest. This could lead to reduced US commitment to NATO and Ukraine, with a focus on fairer burden-sharing. Trump may also scale back US military involvement in conflicts that don’t directly serve US interests.”

 

Dr Kaitlin Senk, a lecturer in polarisation, voting behaviour and women’s representation from the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies said:

“It will be important to watch the tone of Trump’s speech and his first executive orders. In 2017, his inaugural address took on a dark, foreboding tone, alluding to ‘American carnage’ and nationalism. This time around he has prioritised securing the southern border, including reinstating controversial travel bans and requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their claims are processed. Trump has also planned to leave the Paris Climate Agreement and lift restrictions on fossil fuel production and offshore drilling. Finally, we may see attempts to pardon January 6th rioters, an event that resulted in five deaths.”

 

Dr Olivia (‘Liv’) Brown, associate professor in Digital Futures at the University of Bath School of Management and expert in online behaviour and extremism, said:

“Trump’s inauguration marks an interesting time for social networking platforms, the misinformation environment and how content is moderated online. For the first time ever, we witnessed an election campaign in which the owner of a social networking platform aligned themselves so clearly with a specific candidate in the case of Elon Musk and X.

At the same time, we have seen a significant U-Turn from Mark Zuckerberg on the content moderation and fact checking policies at Meta, with Zuckerberg referencing Trump in his announcement video. With Musk now having a formal role within the new administration, and Zuckerberg aligning himself with Trump, there are pertinent questions to be asked of how the political landscape might be shaping some of the most widely used social media platforms in the world.”

 

Dr Matthew Alford a lecturer in politics and propaganda from the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies said:

"After a tumultuous period, we're about to see a return to some normalcy in American politics, symbolised by Obama and Trump sharing pleasantries at President Carter's funeral this week. For the next two years, the US will have a united government, with Republicans in control of all three branches. The 2024 tensions were unprecedented, marked by assassination attempts and escalations in Ukraine and the Middle East.

By 2025, the situation has calmed, with ceasefires likely in both warzones and Trump off the campaign trail. The 47th President has appointed a mix of hawks, doves, extremists, and moderates, so much will depend on his judgment and ability to impose his will. I’m cautiously optimistic—expect significant shifts in policies on Iran, Israel, and Russia, with more realistic approaches likely."

 

Ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s official swearing-in ceremony on Monday, a selection of academic experts from the University of Bath, England are available for interviews, commentary, and analysis on the lead-up to the event, the ceremony itself, and the aftermath. To request an interview with Bath’s experts contact the press office at press@bath.ac.uk or call 01225 386319.

All articles posted on this blog give the views of the author(s), and not the position of the IPR, nor of the University of Bath.

 

 

Posted in: Culture and policy, Democracy and voter preference, Evidence and policymaking, Global politics, US politics

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