With the 2026 U.S. midterm elections approaching, political discussions remain dominated by President Trump. Yet a more consequential question is emerging: What comes after the disruption? What will remain of the institutions, alliances, and assumptions that have shaped the Western world for decades — and what might take their place?
Populism, from Trump to Brexit and the rise of far-right movements across Europe, is both a symptom and a driver of deeper transformations. Declining institutional trust, economic insecurity, and growing divides between political elites and their societies have challenged the foundations of Western democracies. If the old order can no longer deliver security, participation, and opportunity, what credible alternative can emerge?
These questions extend to the transatlantic relationship. Shifting global power dynamics and diverging strategic interests have long challenged the postwar alliance. As the international order becomes more multipolar and transactional, what lies ahead for NATO, European security, and cooperation between the United States and its traditional allies?
On October 20, we will launch A World After Trump, a special issue of Internationale Politik, produced in collaboration between the German Council on Foreign Relations and the Stimson Center. Across two panels, contributors and leading experts will explore what a post-Trump world might look like — and how different actors can shape what comes next.
The event will be followed by a light reception from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Featured Speakers
Martin Bialecki, Editor-in-Chief, Internationale Politik (Introductory Remarks)
Panel 1: Beyond the Populist Moment: Can Democracy Reinvent Itself?
Courtney Flynn Martino, Assistant Director, Bertelsmann Foundation
Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director, European Council on Foreign Relations
Julian Mueller-Kaler, Senior Fellow & Director, Strategic Foresight Hub, Stimson Center
Andreas Kluth, Bloomberg (Moderator)
Panel 2: Beyond the Transatlantic Order: Can the West Reinvent Itself?
Dr. Reinhard Krumm, Head of U.S. & Canada Office, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Phyllis Berry, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, American German institute; Former National Intelligence Officer for Europe
Peter Slezkine, Senior Fellow & Director, Russia Program, Stimson Center; Host, Worldviews Podcast
Juliane Schäuble, Die Zeit (Moderator)
