The November 2020 election of Joe Biden ended Donald Trump's extraordinary tenure. However, it doesn't inevitably indicate a return to previous policies, as American society's expectations have changed. Indeed, there is a call for a strong federal state on economic and social issues on the one hand, and on the other hand an increased mistrust vis-à-vis American interventionism. The magnitude of these transformations shows how necessary is a monitoring and analysis of the ever-evolving American political landscape — especially since they resonate with comparable political developments in Europe and in the rest of the world.
Founded in 2000, Ifri's United States Program aims to understand American culture and politics from the inside. Furthermore, it studies the evolutions of the country’s foreign and defense policies. It lastly actively contributes to maintaining close trans-Atlantic ties, producing and broadcasting research on the United States in France and Europe while also regularly welcoming U.S. academics and officials to Paris.
Building on field missions and a large network of journalists, business executives, diplomats, academics and researchers from American think tanks, the program's analysis are offered in two main formats: the Potomac Papers, which are about 30 pages long notes that feature our latest research activities, and the Chroniques Américaines, which cover the country's social and political current events.The program also organizes research seminars and, since 2000, a major annual conference in December. As to inform the largest audience possible, our experts regularly intervene in the media, both in the written press and audiovisual sector. Our researchers also contribute to Ifri's main publications, RAMSES and Politique étrangère. Through this program, Ifri associated with the «Time to Sign Off» (TTSO) Newsletter and Slate.fr to air the "Trump 2020" Podcast (available in French) every Wednesday from June 2019 to January 2021, focusing on the U.S. presidential elections. The partnership is renewed with the "New Deal" Podcast (also available in French) to report on U.S. current political events every Thursday.
Research Fellow, Head of Ifri's Americas Program
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Advisor to the Americas Program
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Advisor to the Americas Programme
...The U.S. program publishes in-depth analyses on American domestic and foreign policy issues in the form of:
The United States (US) reliance on foreign supplies of raw and processed critical minerals is pressing Washington to devise a strategy to secure short-, medium- and long-term solutions. Pressure only increased with the booming demand spurred partly by the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA)...
Although late in adopting clean hydrogen (H2) and defining a national strategy–a draft was presented by the Department of Energy (DOE) in September 2022–, the United States (US) has strongly reinforced its support to clean hydrogen with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in...
The G7 summit in Hiroshima showcased a new international order in the making: in a world where security is indivisible, the priority should be to uphold a collectively shaped rules-based order and find a modus vivendi with China. The G7 can work toward this by taking into account the...
As French President Emmanuel Macron (accompanied by Ursula von der Leyen) is on a state visit to China, some twenty Ifri researchers decipher the stakes of the U.S./China/Europe strategic triangle.
Donald Trump's presidency allowed the most radical wing of the Republicans to seize hold of the party.
Like the Gulf monarchies, Israel has strengthened its economic cooperation with China since Xi Jinping came to power in 2013, leading to an influx of Chinese capital, whether in Tel Aviv's high-tech sector or in Israel's port infrastructure.
Relations between the United States and the Islamic Republic are marked by history. On the Iranian side, the overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953 weighs heavily on the perception of the United States. On the American side, the events linked to the 1979 Islamic Revolution...
The signing of the AUKUS partnership agreement between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom in September 2021 seems to have reconstituted a natural coalition between “Anglo-Saxon” states. This solidarity generates contradictory judgments.
The Biden Administration has succeeded this summer in passing several important pieces of legislation. In addition to progressive societal measures that break with the Supreme Court's rulings, the Administration has focused on the economy and the environment: the CHIPS Act and the Inflation...
With one year to go before the November 2024 presidential election, the American political field seems to be narrowing down to the two 2020 candidates. Despite his ambitious economic policy, many voters consider Joe Biden to be too old. Could Donald Trump be reelected? For...
Cities and, more broadly, local and regional authorities play an important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With better-than-expected results in the midterm elections, the Biden Administration should be able to pursue its agenda in the next two years. Its support for Ukraine should remain strong, even though it is being challenged in Washington. As for its industrial and...
From zero-COVID policies to the property crisis, what are the challenges facing China's economy, and what a new era of slower Chinese growth will mean for the global economy and geopolitical dynamics?
Less than a year after taking office, the Democratic President is not unanimous within his own party, and the man who once emerged as a consensual figure and the repairer of an American society deeply polarized under Trump, has a hard time convincing the general opinion.
This Spring, the OECD is conducting important negotiations to reform international taxation. The first pillar of these negotiations focuses on the taxation of digital activities.
A "Les Jeudis de l'Ifri" videoconférence around Laurence NARDON, head of Ifri's North America program.
The access to space sector is no longer limited to the historic pioneers of the space adventure nor to the sole states. Exploration projects stimulate imagination and national narratives and trigger important investments in ambitious innovative projects.
The US allies greeted the election of Joe Biden with relief, but also with expectations.
In the aftermath of the November elections, Ifri's Program on North America held the 19th edition of its annual conference on the United States.
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As the incumbent US president prepares to run for a second term, Americans are not convinced that the Biden administration has improved their lives, despite flattering macroeconomic data, Stéphane Lauer writes.
Recent US military activity in the Asia-Pacific is on the rise, including drills in the Philippines and South Korea as well as a submarine deal struck between the US and Australia. China has, meanwhile, accused the US of encircling the country. FRANCE 24 speaks with an expert to shed light on...
President Macron is set to become the first world leader to make a state visit to the US during the Biden presidency, to the delight of Paris. Following the announcement on Tuesday, some commentators claimed that France was being “pampered” by the US, while others drew a contrast with...
Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) is made up of US, UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, with the latter two expected to spearhead cooperation efforts. Some experts say France is already interested despite anger over Aukus security pact; the new PBP will become ‘multilateral rather than...
Celebrating its 20th edition, Ifri's Annual Conference on the United States convened a first panel on national politics and a second on the evolution of U.S. trade. An exchange between Thierry de Montbrial and Henry Kissinger, 56th Secretary of State, concluded the day. Videos of all...
Born of a revolution fought for liberty, ties between the United States and its oldest ally, France, have long been fraternal, but they've also been marked by deep French unease over their equality.
Recent months have seen the United States and its allies step up their assertiveness toward China, with support voiced for Taiwan, a new deal to provide Australia with nuclear submarines and a new European strategy for increased presence in the Indo-Pacific, according to the Associated Press.<...>
In the aftermath of the November elections, Ifri's Program on North America held the 19th edition of its annual conference on the United States.
The race to fill a role at the heart of world economic policy making is turning into a new battleground for the future of globalization.
