Page 18 - CSA Speaker Bulletin January 2017 | CSA Celebrity Speakers
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US ELECTIONS
Decrypting
the Trump
Effect
Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen is former populist movements; they should solution to a real problem. NATO
NATO Secretary General and not give in, but adjust their policies is perfectly placed to keep Europe
former Prime Minister of Denmark. accordingly. For too long populist safe. What we need is more defence
He has been at the centre of parties have enjoyed a monopoly on spending. Meanwhile, instead of
European and global politics for what I would call identity politics. It focusing on political paper tigers, the
three decades and has achieved is quite evident that culture, religion EU should put its weight behind issues
extraordinary diplomatic success. and identity still do matter. So does close to people’s hearts and minds:
an international outlook. This is why fixing EU’s migration system, boosting
Behind the official greetings, mainstream politicians across the Europe’s economic performance and
European capitals are world are scrambling for ideas on how turning the continent into a global
holding their breath about to bridge the gap and balance both. innovation hub.
the consequences of the American This battle may go on for decades. It
elections. With Trump, Brexit no will have a profound impact not only Third, showing that putting ‘America
longer looks like an isolated event. on governments and societies – but first’ does not mean ‘putting US
It is now clear that the entire liberal on free trade, the EU and business leadership last’ will be critical. The
system is under great pressure. There regulation. In order to reduce this need to make globalisation deliver for
is the immediate danger of a populist risk, mainstream forces should hold the many, and not just the few, has
wave hitting Europe with forthcoming populist parties accountable. From my turned into the key battleground of
elections or referenda in Netherlands, time, as prime minister of Denmark the 21st century. If we fail to win
the Czech Republic, France and I have experienced that once you this battle, our countries will gradually
Germany. 2017 will be a highly political invite populist parties to be part of the become more inward looking and less
and volatile year for Europe. But nitty-gritty work of governing, they will prosperous. Europe will need to
hoping that the storm passes is not a discover the ‘art of the deal’ and their adjust to this new reality; and
sound strategy; a liberal awakening is election pledges will become less toxic. President Trump may soon realise
needed. that there is no discrepancy between
Second, Euro-Atlantic institutions like ‘America first’ and US leadership – in
First, the ‘political centre’ should NATO and the EU, will need to focus on fact US global leadership is the most
reconnect with the people who feel core business. The ongoing discussion effective catalyst of US influence and
lost, angry or merely inspired by about an EU defence union is a wrong interests. n
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