American Democracy, Its Place in the World and the Second Trump Administration: Three Historical Keys
Published 2026-02-13
Keywords
- United States,
- Donald Trump,
- Europe,
- Tariffs,
- Isolationism
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2026 José Antonio Montero Jiménez, Pablo León Aguinaga
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Abstract
This article examines, from a historical perspective, recent transformations in United States foreign policy. It focuses on three fundamental dimensions: the consolidation of the imperial presidency, the resurgence of economic protectionism, and the weakening of transatlantic relations. Rather than representing an unprecedented rupture, these dynamics are embedded in long-standing traditions that have shaped the evolution of the U.S. political system, particularly in times of crisis or redefinition of its international role. Through the analysis of historical precedents, the study highlights how unilateralism, the expansive use of executive power, and strategic retrenchment from Europe echo previous episodes in U.S. history. It argues that understanding the current geopolitical moment requires attention not only to global structural conditions, but also to the internal tensions of American democracy.
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