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79745-01 - Lecture: European Global Studies: Focus 250 Years of the United States of America (2 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers |
Corey David Ross (corey.ross@unibas.ch, Assessor)
Ralph Weber (ralph.weber@unibas.ch) |
| Content | At a pivotal historical juncture, the United States confronts renewed scrutiny over the strength and future of its democratic institutions. This lecture series assembles a set of diverse voices to assess whether American democracy is under strain, adapting to new realities, or entering a period of transformation. Beyond the domestic arena, the series also addresses the far-reaching global consequences of these developments. How do internal political tensions shape U.S. foreign policy and international engagement—including with Switzerland? What do they mean for global stability, economic cooperation, and the future of democratic norms worldwide? By combining critical perspectives with a broad analytical lens, the series invites students and a broader public to reflect on the past, present, and future of the American experiment at 250. The talks will be given by:: 7.10. Zeid Al Hussein (President of the International Peace Institute; Perry World House Professor of the Practice of Law and Human Rights at the University of Pennsylvania; Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2014 to 2018) “Law & Decency” 14.10. Leslie Vinjamuri (President and CEO of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs; Professor of Practice in International Relations and Diplomacy at SOAS University of London) “Disorder, Disruption, and Domestic Turmoil: What are the Global Implications of America's Troubled Polity?” 11.11 Amy Greene (Senior Fellow - American Politics, Institut Montaigne) “State of the Dis-Union at 250: What Is American Democracy Now and Where Is It Headed?” 2.12. Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook (Senior Advisor at the Bertelsmann Stiftung's "Europe's Future" Program; Non-Resident Fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute, Berlin) tba 9.12. Bob Rae (Distinguished Fellow, University of Toronto; Matthews Fellow, Queen’s University; Visitor, Massey College; Associate Fellow, Chatham House; Former Premier of Ontario; Interim Leader for the Liberal Party of Canada; Canadian Ambassador to the UN from 2020 to 2025) “Why the Struggle for Democracy has Always been Difficult – With Examples from the US and from all around the World” 16.12. Mario Del Pero (Professor of International History at SciencesPo, Paris; Research Fellow at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies in Milan; 2026-2027 Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy and International Relations at the Library of Congress) “Declaring Independence, Recognizing (and Exploiting) Interdependence: Power, Sovereignty, and the Dilemmas of Modern US Hegemony” |
| Bibliography | Matt Grossmann, David A. Hopkin, Polarized by Degrees: How the Diploma Divide and the Culture War Transformed American Politics (2024). Ganesh Sitaraman, The Crisis of the Middle-Class Constitution: Why Economic Inequality Threatens our Republic (2017). Anne Applebaum, Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism (2020). Robert Kagan, The Jungle Grows Back: America and Our Imperiled World (2018). G. John Ikenberry, Liberal Leviathan: The Origins, Crisis, and Transformation of the American World Order (2011). |
| Comments | The course will contain content in both English and German. |
| Weblink | Europainstitut Basel |
| Admission requirements | keine |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 18.15-20.00 | Kollegienhaus, Aula 033 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 07.10.2026 | 18.15-20.00 | Kollegienhaus, Aula 033 |
| Wednesday 14.10.2026 | 18.15-20.00 | Kollegienhaus, Aula 033 |
| Wednesday 11.11.2026 | 18.15-20.00 | Kollegienhaus, Aula 033 |
| Wednesday 02.12.2026 | 18.15-20.00 | Kollegienhaus, Aula 033 |
| Wednesday 09.12.2026 | 18.15-20.00 | Kollegienhaus, Aula 033 |
| Wednesday 16.12.2026 | 18.15-20.00 | Kollegienhaus, Aula 033 |
| Modules |
Electives Bachelor History: Recommendations (Bachelor's degree subject: History) Modul: Transfer: Europa interdisziplinär (Master's degree program: European History in Global Perspective) Module: Europeanization and Globalization (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Wahlbereich Master Geschichte: Empfehlungen (Master's degree subject: History) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Lehrveranstaltungsbegleitend -- nähere Auskünfte im Laufe des Kurses |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Europainstitut |