At this Catalyst talk, University of Otago politics Professor Robert Patman will discuss Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. Linked by opposition to globalization and ‘taking back’ state sovereignty, these two events have raised questions about the durability of a liberal international order.
Yet the liberal order has proven to be more resilient to these nationalist, populist forces than many imagined. Britain’s Theresa May and America’s Donald Trump are finding it difficult to implement their nationalist agendas. And these populist nationalist forces have generated a significant liberal counter-response in many Western countries – as shown by elections in Britain, the Netherlands and France and record low approval ratings for President Trump.
Far from ending globalization, the major impact of post-truth populism might be to intensify liberal efforts to address its downsides – such as spiraling civil conflicts, environmental decline and growing economic inequality. What might be some implications for the New Zealand general election?
$5 donation at door. Please carpool if possible. Register at connect@catalystnz.org
About the speaker:
Professor Robert Patman’s research interests concern US foreign policy, international relations, global security, great powers and the Horn of Africa.
He is an editor for the journal International Studies Perspectives, and the author or editor of 11 books. Recent publications include a volume called Strategic Shortfall: The ‘Somalia Syndrome’ and the March to 9/11 (Praeger, 2010) and two co-edited books titled The Bush Leadership, the Power of Ideas, and the War on Terror (Ashgate, 2012), and China and the International System: Becoming a World Power (Routledge, 2013).
He is a Fulbright Senior Scholar, a Senior Fellow at the Centre of Strategic Studies, Wellington, an Honorary Professor of the NZ Defence Command and Staff College, Trentham, and provides regular contributions to the national and international media on global issues and events.
