The bipolar nation

From a shining "Empire of Liberty" to an unpredictable superpower in permanent crisis mode: the history of the USA is a chronicle of extremes. While the country once gave the world the sweet promise of freedom and later also that of unbridled mass consumption, it simultaneously subjected it to the harshness of imperial dominance and ecological exploitation on a global scale. In the midst of the 250th anniversary year of 2026, the question arises: Has the long "American century" finally run its course? In his non-fiction book "The Bipolar Nation", the respected Mannheim historian Philipp Gassert draws a balance sheet of a superpower at a crossroads that is as enlightening as it is sobering. He shows that the deep rifts of the Trump era are not accidents of history, but have their roots in the contradictions of the founding in 1776. Between global ambition and isolationist retreat, Gassert dissects the legacy of a nation that is both an anchor and a chaotic factor for the world order. He talks to us about the paradoxes of America, whose inner turmoil is shaking global security today.

In cooperation with Colloquium politicum & Landeszentrale für politische Bildung