01 Jul The Future of the European Union: Democracy and the Rule of Law in the Trump 2.0 World Order

Madailein Watters

Law and Political Science, T rinity College Dublin, Dublin Ireland

E-mail: watterma@tcd.ie

Abstract

The election of Donald T rump has caused political panic around the globe. It is clear T rump rejects all forms of multilateralism and globalism – but beyond that, there is a general contempt for democratic legitimacy. Such a trend is alive and healthy all around the globe. In the U.S. and the EU, both jurisdictions are facing internal authoritarian-trending threats. In the new T rump 2.0 world order, who will be the defender of the rule of law and democracy? This paper asks the question: is the EU prepared for such a challenge? Part I will set the scene: laying out the various anti-democratic trends in both the U.S. and the EU, highlighting unlawful deportations and the attack on dissent In the U.S; as well as judicial independence and the rise of the AfD in the EU. Further Part I will touch on the involvement of newly elected U.S. officials in EU politics. Part II will compare the constitutional jurisprudence of both jurisdictions, analysing how both courts deal with threats to the rule of law and democracy. Finally, Part III will analyze the EU’s potential role in upholding the rule of law both in the EU and around the Globe, coming to the conclusion that it’s not a matter of whether the EU can become the protector of democracy, but rather; that it has no choice.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE (Page 17-25)

Keywords: Rule of Law, Democracy, Global World Order, EU and U.S. Constitutional Jurisprudence