On November 3, 2020, the U.S. will be having, what has been undividedly called, historical elections. This year, the situations is particularly dramatic due to the current President, but also due to the political and social tension within the United States. The crisis within the U.S. is multiple: health, social, political, economic, institutional, foreign political, and soon likely judicial as well. The eyes of the world will be directed on that day towards the sum of the majority in the Electoral College.

To mark the occasion, the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory will organize a panel discussion entitled “Elections in the U.S.: political alternatives and new social movements” on Friday, October 23, 2020 at 6 pm at the Belgrade Youth Center, Amerikana Hall. 

Competent interlocutors, experts on the American situation, will analyze the political and economic current, but also various social movements, both on the left and on the right, which influence the new shaping of American politics and social events. Social inequality and racial injustice, the position of minorities and the new left movement are specific responses to the crisis, as are populism, racism, white supremacy and the strengthening of the extreme right. Where is the American society heading and how will the events there reflect on global relations, Europe and our region? Has the crisis contributed to the strengthening of the progressive movement, and can we hope for a more socially solidary America after these elections? What is the role of the United States towards the relations with other global powers at this moment, and how will the election results influence a complicated geopolitical situation? Can we expect substantial differences in the approach towards our region depending on who wins?

Participants in this discussion include Professor Dr. Ivan Vujačić, former ambassador of Serbia in the U.S. and the President of the Forum for International Relations, Professor Dr. Nemanja Džuverović from the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Belgrade, Assistant Professor Dr. Aleksej Kišjuhas from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Novi Sad, and Dr. Đurđa Trajković, alumna of the University of Wisconsin and guest lectures at various U.S. universities. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Milivoj Bešlin, Assistant Research Professor at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory.