Decision 2020: Understanding the US Elections

The 2020 elections will be one of the most critical political events in recent decades for the United States. Against the backdrop of a highly divided American public and rising polarization in Washington, will Donald Trump maintain his grip on power for another four years or will Joe Biden overtake the White House? Which party will obtain a majority in the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as in state and local governments across the country? What impact will these outcomes have on the US and other countries, especially the UK? How can we think about these questions in the context of a broader discussion about America’s institutions, political culture, demographics, and democratic setup.

With support from the US State Department and US Embassy in London, the Centre on US Politics (CUSP) at University College London (UCL) and the Rothermere American Institute (RAI) at the University of Oxford propose to host seven major public events in the UK under the theme “DECISION 2020: Interpreting the US Elections.” The goal is to educate, inform, and encourage a greater understanding among UK residents of the US electoral process, as well as to engage policymakers, academics, thought-leaders, the media, students, and practitioners in a nonpartisan, informed, well- rounded discussion of the topic.

The program will comprise two parts: 1) four events held before the 2020 US elections (scheduled for November 3) that will analyse important trends, issues, opportunities, and challenges in the election; and 2) three events held after the election that will recap the results and parse what they mean for national, state, and local politics in the US, as well as for the UK and the world.

• Grant title: Decision 2020: Understanding the US Elections
• Start date: 01/07/20
• End date: 31/01/21
• Sponsor: US Embassy funds
• Principal investigator: Dr Thomas Gift