By Martin Wein, General-Anzeiger Bonn, 28 September 2025

In an interview with journalist Martin Wein, John Austin, Fellow at the Academy for Foreign Affairs in Bonn, argues that Germany must assume greater leadership in defending liberal democracy.

The American political scientist contends that the United States has relinquished its traditional global role under Donald Trump’s authoritarian course. Drawing on his experience in America’s industrial “rust belt”, Austin links the rise of populism in both the US and Europe to the failure to modernise declining industrial regions.

Through the Heartlands Transformation Network, which he co-founded, Austin promotes economic renewal through clean technologies, education, and innovation—the best antidotes, he believes, to political extremism.

He calls for a new economic alliance among democratic nations—including the EU, the UK, and Canada—independent of Washington, with Germany leading the effort.

While cautiously optimistic about the resilience of US democratic institutions, Austin doubts America will soon regain its credibility as the leader of the free world.
“Others must now step up – and that means Germany,” he concludes.