Stany Zjednoczone – historyczny zwrot ku niewiadomemu
The United States: A historic turn to the unknown

Summary/Abstract: While much of 2016 was spent in anticipation of what came next for the world, it was also a time of tensions, new challenges and unexpected developments both for the United States and the world. In the case of the United States, the biggest surprise of 2016 was the election of Donald Trump as the new President. Electoral issues dominated US domestic politics. The Americans were especially frustrated by legislative paralysis, rising tensions and social divisions, and by the current economic and political situation. In American foreign policy, a lame-duck atmosphere prevailed. President Barack Obama made a number of foreign visits that, as one would expect, did not result in breakthroughs in relationships with partners. In his last year in office, he primarily wanted to conclude initiatives and processes that he had begun, and to strengthen relationships with key US partners while also creating opportunities for new international projects. The Middle East is still the biggest problem in American politics. In 2016 we could see that the fight against ISIS in Iraq and neighbouring countries and the civil war in Syria intensified. Among other concerns and challenges, one can point to Russia’s cyberspace meddling in the US elections and the rather unexpected behaviour of the Philippines’ President, who announced his country’s withdrawal from an alliance with the Americans.

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