Transatlantic Tensions: The Global Battle for Cultural Influence. With Edward Knudsen

For decades, the United States stood as the world’s dominant
cultural power, shaping global life through Hollywood, Pop
Culture, and Silicon Valley. Today, that influence is shifting.
Since Donald Trump’s second presidential term began in 2025,
Washington has pursued a course that not only reduces cultural
outreach – such as cutting exchange programmes like Fulbright –
but also signals a substantial shift in geopolitical strategy.
The recently published US strategy paper calls for the US to
exert significant influence over Europe’s political development,
and even encourages „resistance to the current course“ within
Europe, raising alarm in European countries. At the same time,
inter­national organizations such as UNESCO and the WHO have lost
a key partner. The result is a cultural vacuum felt worldwide –
from lecture halls to museums to state-funded media.


What happens when the former soft power superpower loses its
appeal? Who will step in to fill the gap, and what opportunities
does this create for Europe to redefine its cultural role? In
this episode, Amira El Ahl discusses these tectonic shifts in
global influence with Edward Knudsen, who shares insights from
his latest report, “Domination Without Hegemony? The Emerging
Contest to Fill the US’ Soft Power Vacuum”, published by the ifa
research program in cooperation with the Hertie School.


Shownotes:


Find the ECP report: “Domination Without Hegemony? The Emerging
Contest to Fill the US’ Soft Power Vacuum” under:
https://culturalrelations.ifa.de/en/research/results/ecp-report-usa-softpower-vacuum/


Find the recording of Edward Knudsen’s presentation of the report
here: https://youtu.be/sxZvIo-WCJlw?si=_S2NYekVwxmS3hzH


For all other information visit our website:
https://culturalrelations.ifa.de/en/ To learn more about ifa:
https://www.ifa.de/en/


If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email
us at podcast@ifa.de