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US-Wahl 2020: Stimmen aus dem Humboldt-Netzwerk

Wissenschaftsmagazine in den USA hatten sich erstmals in einem US-Wahlkampf positioniert und sich für den Demokraten Biden ausgesprochen. Wie sehen Humboldtianer*innen das Ergebnis? Erste Reaktionen zeigen Hoffnung und Erleichterung, aber auch Befürchtungen.

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Unparteilichkeit gilt eigentlich als Eckpfeiler der Wissenschaft. Dennoch hatte Scientific American zum ersten Mal in seiner 175-jährigen Geschichte eine Wahlempfehlung ausgesprochen – für Joe Biden. „Die Beweise und die Wissenschaft zeigen, dass Donald Trump den Vereinigten Staaten und ihren Menschen schweren Schaden zugefügt hat – weil er Beweise und Wissenschaft ablehnt“ schrieb das Blatt in seiner Oktoberausgabe. Und auch Nature hatte Biden als „einzige Auswahlmöglichkeit bei der US-Wahl“ bezeichnet.

Nun steht nach vier Jahren der wissenschaftsfeindlichen Politik fest: Joe Biden wird der 46. Präsident der USA. Die gewählte Vizepräsidentin Kamala Harris hat sich am Sonntag mit einer Rede an ihre Anhänger und die US-Bevölkerung gewandt. Sie sagte, die Menschen hätten für Hoffnung, Einheit, Anstand, Wissenschaft und Wahrheit gestimmt.

Wie bewerten Humboldtianer*innen das Ergebnis? Stimmen aus dem US-Netzwerk zum Ausgang der Wahl:

Elisa Santana

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Elisa Santana ist eine ehemalige Beraterin des Kongressabgeordneten Lloyd Doggett und Kommunikationsdirektorin der erfolgreichen Primärkampagne der Kongressabgeordneten Sylvia Garcia. Im Jahr 2016 erhielt Elisa das Bundeskanzlerin-Stipdendium und verbrachte 16 Monate in Deutschland, wo sie den Zuzug von Asylbewerbern nach Europa analysierte.

"In their recent letters in POLITICO, Franziska Brantner , German Green party spokesperson for EU affairs in the Bundestag and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, German Defense Minister argue the same two points the EU has wrestled with: strengthening the EU’s autonomy or reliance on partnership with the United States for security.
Brantner speaks of the need to “define what defence and deterrent capabilities are needed to guarantee our territorial integrity.” This talking point has existed for some time. The fact of the matter is: Germany, nor the EU has the political will or mandate from its citizens to do this.
The partnership does not mean the U.S. wants to see a weak EU or Europe. Quite the opposite, your strength and security is beneficial to our own. This is the crux of the partnership, which is built on shared values.
No doubt, it has been difficult these last years as those values have come into question. U.S. citizens have demonstrated they will fight to protect democracy and to vote out chaos.
On Saturday, the transatlantic partnership seemed to let out a sigh of relief, with bells ringing from Washington to Berlin. The loudest sigh may have come from communities in the U.S. who have lived with the reality of what President Trump’s vitriol has transpired. Beyond our own governance, we witnessed our allies distance themselves from our nation and its people. As Kramp-Karrenbauer noted, anti-American sentiment “is on the rise.”

U.S. citizens have demonstrated they will fight to protect democracy and to vote out chaos.
Elisa Santana, Politische Strategin

At our lowest, we lifted one another up, registered people to vote and believed in this moment. Putting out a Joe Biden yard sign in the U.S. at times was an act of bravery. One did not know if your house or family would be retaliated against. The worry about how the country could continue on this trajectory, outweighed blatant intimidation.
Looking forward, both the U.S. and the EU have similar security threats, conspiracy theorists and white supremacists who have permeated our nations. We must chart a path forward to address this reality instead of denying its existence.
Brantner is correct, security is more than traditional threats, it is about addressing the coronavirus, climate change, and much more. Young, diverse leaders on both sides of the Atlantic have kept their foot on the gas on these issues. As the demographics of U.S. leaders continue to shift, it gives new life to the relationship the U.S. has with the EU.
The U.S. also looks to how Germany may shift. Germany will hold federal elections in 2021, the Bundestag will be reshuffled, and a new German Chancellor will come to power. This election will demonstrate what German priorities are.
In conclusion, the transatlantic relationship has and will continue to evolve. If we have learned anything in this pandemic, it is that innovative solutions must be created for the challenges ahead. For now, let us celebrate the ability to move forward, however it may be."

Louise K. Davidson-Schmich

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Louise K. Davidson-Schmich ist Professorin für Politikwissenschaften an der University of Miami, USA. Sie forscht unter anderem zur Verknüpfung von Gender, Sexualität und Politik. 1996 war sie Bundeskanzler-Stipendiatin an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

After 231 years, an American woman has finally come within a heartbeat of the presidency!
Louise K. Davidson-Schmich, Professorin für Politikwissenschaften

Max Paul Friedman

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Max Paul Friedman ist Historiker an der American University in Washington D.C., USA und anerkannter Spezialist der Geschichte der US-Außenpolitik. Er erhielt 2018 den Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel-Forschungspreis.

Statement vom 6. November 2020:
"There is a long American history of voter suppression, that is, making it more difficult for working people, people of color, and young people to vote. This election saw an effort to go beyond voter suppression to vote suppression, that is, preventing the counting of votes actually cast. This may be the clearest admission that a minority party can no longer stay in power through democratic means."

This election saw an effort to go beyond voter suppression to vote suppression.
Max Paul Friedman, Historiker

Cynthia Miller-Idriss

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Cynthia Lynn Miller-Idriss ist Professorin für Erziehungswissenschaften und Soziologie sowie Forschungsdirektorin am Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) an der American University in Washington D.C., USA. Sie erhielt zahlreiche Auszeichnungen für ihre Forschung zu Extremismus und Radikalisierung im Jugendalter und war im Jahr 2000 Bundeskanzler-Stipendiatin am Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung (MPIB) in Berlin.

Statement vom 6. November 2020:
"Three days post-election, the winner is still not clear, but what is clear is this: the US remains extraordinarily polarized and the populist right is highly mobilized. Even if Biden wins, there is little doubt that the coming four years will be marked by reactionary far-right politics and episodic violence from the extreme fringe. This was not a victory for American democracy."

The US remains extraordinarily polarized and the populist right is highly mobilized.
Cynthia Lynn Miller-Idriss, Professorin für Erziehungswissenschaften und Soziologie

Gil Pimentel

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Gilberto A. Pimentel ist mehrfach ausgezeichneter Fernsehjournalist und war unter anderem bei ABC News und National Geographic tätig. Er kam 1990 als Bundeskanzler-Stipendiat nach Berlin und arbeitete beim Deutschen Fernsehfunk.

I'm greatly relieved. But Trumpism will remain a potent force in this country.
Gilberto A. Pimentel, Fernsehjournalist

Cathleen Fischer

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Cathleen S. Fischer ist Präsidentin der American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation und setzt sich seit über 30 Jahren für den transatlantischen und deutsch-amerikanischen Austausch ein. Sie war unter anderem stellvertretende Direktorin des American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) an der Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA.

Statement vom 4. November:
"Like many Americans, I viewed this US presidential election as the most important in my lifetime.
In hindsight, and with the outcome of the US presidential race still uncertain and likely to be contested, this election, while important, follows a troubling pattern that leaves much unresolved.
The United States is deeply, bitterly, perhaps irreparably divided. Regardless of how the presidential race ends, the battle to define the direction of society and politics in the United States will continue. The struggle will be protracted, fierce, and, at times, ugly. One part of the nation is fearful of cultural, societal, demographic, and economic change – fears that the Trump campaign played on to mobilize its tribe of voters in support of deeply flawed candidate, racial and ethnic division, and antidemocratic policies. The other part embraces a vision of a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable society, governance based on science-based policies, and international cooperation."

The battle to define the direction of society and politics in the United States will continue.
Cathleen Fischer, Präsidentin der American Friends of the Humboldt Foundation

"What does this mean for science? Although the United States will remain a scientific powerhouse, it may become less attractive to foreign researchers and students. And while this election may not bring a fresh start for US-German relations, scientific collaboration can and should continue. Perhaps we might begin with exchanges on what the United States might learn from Germany – about how to deal with a pandemic, address climate change, confront wrenching historical legacies, and practice effective multilateralism.
The part of the nation that believes in science will survive to fight another day and use the opportunities of the federal system of government to preserve and act on this vision. It will need the support, understanding, and partnership of democratic friends and allies in Germany and around the world."

Katja Greeson

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Katja Greeson ist Bundeskanzler-Stipendiatin im Bereich Politische Bildung beim Arbeitskreis deutscher Bildungsstätten e. V. in Berlin. Sie erforscht politische Erziehung in Deutschland und war zuvor als Marketing Director beim Democratic National Committee unter anderem am Wahlkampf für Barack Obama beteiligt.

Statement vom 6. November 2020:
"This toxic election may be coming to a close, but we have a long way to go in facing the disease of polarization in our country. Greater investment in civic education, media literacy, and programs that simply bring diverse US-Americans together to engage with one another is an essential step forward."

We have a long way to go in facing the disease of polarization in our country.
Katja Greeson, Bundeskanzler-Stipendiatin im Bereich Politische Bildung

Myles W. Jackson

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Myles W. Jackson ist Professor für Wissenschaftsgeschichte am Institute for Advanced Study an der Princeton University, USA. 1999 war er Humboldt-Forschungsstipendiat am Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte in Berlin und erhielt 2015 den Reimar Lüst-Preis.

Statement vom 4. November:
"The next few days will determine whether the United States will fall into the abyss of ignorance, confusion, irrationality, and hatred or rise out of the ashes and once again attempt to be enlightened, democratic, and just. It is unfathomable that the vote could be this close after the past four years of darkness. The Democrats might still be win the political battle, but the moral victory has eluded us . Apologies to my German friends and colleagues: the coming days will be painful. Let us all hope that it will be limited to several days and not four more years."

The Democrats might still be win the political battle, but the moral victory has eluded us.
Myles W. Jackson, Professor für Wissenschaftsgeschichte

Seyla Benhabib

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Seyla Benhabib ist Professorin für Politikwissenschaft und Philosophie an der Yale University und Senior Research Fellow und Professor Adjunct of Law an der Columbia University. Von 1979 bis 1981 war sie Alexander von Humboldt-Stipendiatin und arbeitete zusammen mit Jürgen Habermas. Von Juni bis August 2009 war sie Humboldt-Stipendiatin am WissenschaftsKolleg in Berlin.

"I would like to see my students to stop crying! On the morning of November 4, 2016 I was teaching at Yale University and my undergraduate students, who had worked so hard for Hillary Clinton, were crying. On November 5, 2020 I was teaching a law class on migration and refugee issues at Columbia Law School, and one of the advanced law students asked- 'Professor Benhabib, have we become a totalitarian country?' I would like a Biden Presidency to bring hope and confidence for the future to this generation."

I would like a Biden Presidency to bring hope and confidence for the future to this generation.
Seyla Benhabib, Professorin für Politische Theorie und Politische Philosophie
vorheriger Eintrag „Sicherer Hafen für den Neustart“
nächster Eintrag Chancengerechtigkeit und Diversität im Fokus