« America at a Crossroads: Politics, Power and Global Challenges » a five-part conference series exploring the key political, institutional, and geopolitical challenges facing the United States today.
Led by Boyd K. Rutherford, an american politician, the series offers a distinctive opportunity to examine contemporary American politics through the perspective of a political practitioner with first-hand experience at both the federal and state levels. Drawing on his experience in public office and political life, Boyd K. Rutherford will provide an informed perspective on the forces currently reshaping American politics and America’s role in the world.
This opening session examines the defining characteristics of the Trump administration by placing Donald Trump’s political career within the broader context of his professional and media background. Particular attention will be given to his experience as a real estate developer and to the construction of a highly recognizable personal and commercial brand. The discussion will consider the central role played by the media in promoting both his business ventures and his public persona, from traditional media during his career as a businessman to the extensive use of both traditional and social media in his political campaigns and in the exercise of the presidency.
The session will then turn to the administration’s political agenda and examine the extent to which its policies depart from traditional Republican orthodoxy, particularly in the areas of trade, industrial policy, and international relations. The concept of “America First” will be explored as a guiding principle of the administration and as a framework for understanding the implementation of its domestic and foreign policy priorities.
Finally, the discussion will consider whether the distinctive features of the Trump administration reflect broader structural transformations within the Republican Party and American politics, or whether they are primarily shaped by the political style, priorities, and personality of the current president. This raises a broader question concerning the durability of the administration’s policy agenda and whether its major departures from established political traditions are likely to persist beyond the Trump presidency.