Scientists of Münster University evaluate transatlantic relations

Whether the election of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States will have an impact on Americans' understanding of democracy and on academic relations with Europe is discussed by three researchers of Münster University in their guest articles. Jon Tyson on Unsplash Whether the election of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States will have an impact on Americans' understanding of democracy and on academic relations with Europe is discussed by three researchers of Münster University in their guest articles. Separation of powers set to face a tough test Jürgen Overhoff about the understanding of democracy in the USA: Regardless of the result of the US election, the traditional American system of checks and balances - in other words, the carefully balanced separation of powers between the Administration, the Supreme Court and the Legislature - is likely to be facing an increasingly tough test in the future. While the Americans - since their independence in the late 18th century - were for centuries proud supporters of the idea of mutual checks among the highest authorities of the land, this ideal has been seriously harmed in the last four years. The (still) incumbent US President, Donald Trump, has heaped abuse on the independent courts of the land as no other president before him, and has even defied all the accepted conventions by appointing to the Supreme Court judges who were primarily committed to his political opinions, as well as using offensive language to insult Nancy Pelosi, the dignified speaker of the House of Representatives.