In its second term, the Trump administration has implemented some of its most controversial proposals, particularly in foreign policy. Key institutions like USAID have been dismantled, and funding for the Department of Education and the State Department has been slashed, and the US has withdrawn from multilateral organizations like the WHO and UNESCO. Independent cultural and academic institutions have faced interference, while international students have encountered strict immigration and speech restrictions. Despite this inward turn, the U.S. continues to assert itself globally through military and economic pressure, signalling a shift from traditional soft power—based on attraction and cooperation—toward a more coercive and unilateral approach.With the U.S. retreating from its soft power leadership, the question arises: who, if anyone, will fill the vacuum? While China has made gains, especially in the Global South, it struggles in regions like Europe and lacks the cultural appeal of smaller East Asian nations. Middle powers such as India, Turkey, and Brazil show promise but lack sufficient resources. Meanwhile, wealthy autocracies gain visibility through lavish spending but face limits due to their political systems. This leaves Europe at a crossroads: either follow the U.S. in turning inward, stay idle and let the liberal international order languish, or step up and champion liberal democratic values through renewed external cultural policy.To explore these options and suggest potential pathways, this event presents the results of a new ifa External Cultural Policy (ECP) Monitor report on titled “Domination without hegemony? The emerging contest to fill the US’ soft power vacuum,” which examines the consequences of current US foreign policy for European international cultural relations policy and actors will be presented by Helmut K. Anheier and Edward L. Knudsen and followed by a panel discussion.

Programme

18:30 – 18:35 Opening remarks by Christina Beinhoff (German Federal Foreign Office) (tbc)

18:35 – 18:55 Presentation of main findings of the report: Helmut K. Anheier and Edward L. Knudsen (Hertie School)

18:25 – 19:45 Panel discussion moderated by Melinda Crane (Deutsche Welle)

Sudha David-Wilp (Vice President of External Relations and Senior Fellow, German Marshall Fund)
Maina Kiai (Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow, Bosch-Stiftung)
Andrew Manning (Director, EUNIC)
Gitte Zschoch (Secretary General, ifa)

19:45 – 19:50 Closing remarks by Jürgen Hardt (Member of German Parliament) (tbc)

19:50 – 20:30 Reception