Yuen Yuen Ang

Opinion | For America to lead again, Joe Biden must heal domestic fractures and address misgivings about globalisation

The US cannot withdraw from global leadership and refuse to allow anyone else to take its place. If it wants to reclaim and retain its position, it must tackle inequality and the costs of globalisation – or risk a second Trump

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Yuen Yuen Ang

Published: 1:30am, 15 Jan 2021Updated: 2:17am, 15 Jan 2021

US President-elect Joe Biden’s impending inauguration has raised hopes that his administration will “make America lead again”. If the United States is to transform its rivalry with China into constructive competition, this is the right approach.

But whether Biden can restore and sustain America’s global leadership depends on how effectively he mends domestic fractures and addresses deep-seated misgivings about globalisation held by segments of the US electorate.

Biden has repeatedly pledged to restore America’s international reputation and global standing, which were severely damaged under President Donald Trump. To that end, he will quickly rejoin multilateral institutions (such as the World Health Organization) and international agreements (beginning with the Paris climate agreement) from which Trump withdrew the US.

These pledges point to a vision of the US back at the head of the liberal international order, a position from which it can more effectively compete – and cooperate – with China. But there is good reason to believe that many Americans do not want their country to lead again.

Trump’s enduring popularity suggests much of America has “lost its soul” - as evidenced by the white nationalists and neo-Nazis who stormed Capitol Hill on January 6. Photo: Reuters

Biden’s electoral victory in November fell short of the decisive repudiation of Trump and his toxic brand of populism that liberals expected. Yes, Biden won over 81 million votes – more than any US presidential candidate in history.