The AmerikaHaus NRW e.V., the German Atlantic Association e.V., and the North American Studies Program of the University of Bonn in cooperation with the US Association of Former Members of Congress warmly invite you to a:
Brown-Bag Lunch Discussion with Rep. Mike Capuano (D‑MA, 1999–2019) and Rep. Fred Upton (R‑MI, 1987–2023) moderated by Prof. Dr. Jasper Trautsch, University of Bonn
Tuesday, 4 November 2025, 12:15 (CET)
Universität Bonn, Festsaal, Regina-Pacis-Weg 3, 53113 Bonn
In recent years, Europeans have been watching the erosion of democratic norms in the U.S. with anxious concern, not only because of our military dependence on the Atlantic alliance and the economic importance of transatlantic trade, but also because our own democratic cultures are deeply interwoven with that of the U.S. Better understanding the political developments on the other side of the Atlantic is, therefore, vital – particularly since populism and political gridlock are also on the rise here in Europe. What are the causes of the hyperpolarization that make America’s parties increasingly view each other as enemies? What can be done to avert the threats to US democracy? What can we learn from the American experience to protect our democracies from toxic partisanship?
To discuss these and related questions and to analyze the first year of Donald Trump’s second presidency, former Members of the US Congress Mike Capuano, Democrat from Massachusetts (1999−2019), and Fred Upton, Republican from Michigan (1987−2023), will join us for a brown-bag-lunch, to which you are cordially invited. Sharing their political insights with us, they will present their views about the state of American democracy and look forward to your questions.
This event will be held in English. Tickets are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. We kindly ask you to only reserve the number of tickets that you will definitely use.
We cordially thank our partners for their cooperation:
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