UCL CUSP launches at a pivotal moment in US politics, with the national campaign season transitioning into full swing, in advance of the presidential election on 3 November 2020.

Dr Thomas Gift, founding Director of UCL CUSP, said: “Given many important political trends in the United States that mirror those in other parts of the world—from the rise of populism and ‘fake news’, to concerns about authoritarianism and mounting polarisation—maintaining an international perspective on US politics is critical.

“The Centre will pioneer an outward-looking approach to understanding the structures, influence, and reach of contemporary American politics, providing a diversity of perspectives and informing a global view on US politics.”

Housed within the UCL School of Public Policy, and with support from the UCL Institute of the Americas, UCL CUSP is uniquely situated to provide rigorous, thoughtful, and incisive analysis of US politics and its implications for an international audience.

The Centre brings together a range of UCL experts shaping salient conversations about US politics in the UK, in the United States, and around the world. Expertise spans diverse fields, including US foreign policy, elections, and domestic policy.

In addition to publishing in top academic presses and scholarly journals, UCL CUSP members routinely engage with policymakers and appear in an array of international media outlets.

Among the Centre’s experts are Dr Thomas Gift, Director of UCL CUSP, an American political scientist who has written for leading outlets including the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post and is a regular contributor to CNN, BBC, CNBC, and Sky; Dr Brian Klass, an American political scientist and columnist for the Washington Post and host of the podcast ‘Power Corrupts’; and Dr Julie Norman, a frequent contributor on US politics to the BBC, CNBC, Al Jazeera, and The Hill.

Notes to Editors

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For more information or to speak to the researchers involved, please contact Natasha Downes, UCL Media Relations. T: +44 (0) 20 3108 3844 / +44 (0) 7990 675 947, E: n.downes@ucl.ac.uk