In her lecture “State of the Dis-Union at 250: What is American Democracy Now and Where is it Headed?”, Amy Greene (Senior Fellow for American Politics at Institut Montaigne, Paris) provided a timely and engaging analysis of the most recent developments in US politics. Her talk centred around the first two years of Donald Trump’s second presidential term, the mid-term elections and the so-called “Blue Wave”, and the outlook for the future of US democracy.

Greene emphasised the centrality of economics for understanding contemporary US society and voting behaviour and highlighted the increasing “presidentialisation” of politics in the country – but noted that this started decades before the incumbent took office. While polarisation, mistrust and institutional dysfunction were recurring themes in her talk, she also spoke of dignity, hope and the possibility of a new American Dream. 

Amy Greene

Amy Greene is a US-born Franco-American researcher, author, and consultant on US politics and related transatlantic and geopolitical dynamics. Among her areas of expertise are the impact of societal transformations on American domestic and foreign policies, the consequences of presidential and Congressional politics across sectors, France-EU-US relations, and US policy within larger geopolitical dynamics. She advises and consults for a diverse French, European, and American clientele consisting of high-level and C-suite actors across a wide range of industries and sectors in the public and private sectors.
 
She teaches at Sciences Po Paris and Boston University. She regularly appears in French and international media. She is the author of two books - L’Amérique face à ses fractures (Tallandier, 2024) and L’Amérique Après Obama (Autrement, 2012) – and many publications appearing in revues and the press. Amy Greene is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Sciences Po Paris and The American University.

Lecture Series “250 Years of the United States”

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 next lecture will be given on 2 December by Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, Senior Advisor in the “Europe’s Future” Programme at the Bertelsmann Stiftung; Non-Resident Fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute, Berlin.

250 Years of the United States: Public Lecture Series

Democracy Foundation Basel

The Democracy Foundation Basel initiates and supports projects that strengthen democratic values and promote participation. Its goal is to deepen dialogue between individuals, institutions, and society, and to provide sustainable impetus for a vibrant democracy.

Democracy Foundation Basel (Demokratiestiftung Basel)