A critical look at American foreign policy

The panel discussion "US interventionism: Venezuela, Greenland, Iran and the global order" focuses on one of the central lines of conflict in international politics: the tension between geopolitical power politics and the claim to a rules-based international order.

Using current examples such as Venezuela, the debate over Greenland or the political and military tensions with Iran, the participants will discuss how American foreign policy moves between security interests, strategic resource issues and the claim to global influence.

Different interpretations of US foreign policy

There are different interpretations of this international discourse. Critical voices see in these developments signs of a renewed intensification of power-political logics and a further erosion of international law. From this perspective, American interventionism appears to be an expression of geopolitical interests aimed at securing zones of influence, controlling resources or limiting rival powers.

Other interpretations emphasise the role of the USA as a security policy actor that ensures stability and defends existing international norms in an increasingly fragmented and multipolar world.

The discussion touches on fundamental questions about the development of the international system. Experts from the fields of UN policy, US foreign policy, Latin American research and European security policy will categorise the latest developments in terms of politics and international law. The European perspective and scope for action also take centre stage.

The panellists are:

• Prof. Dr Sonja Grimm, holder of the Chair of International Relations and European Studies at JMU and expert in international relations
• Prof. Dr. Mary Ann Snyder-Körber, Professor of American Cultural Studies at the Chair of American Studies at JMU and expert on US-American culture and literature, modernisation processes and international cooperation
• Dr Dr Leandro Dias, Research Associate at the Chair of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure at JMU and expert in international law
• Dania Schulze, UN Youth Delegate for Germany at the UN 2025/26

Noemi Albrecht, Faculty Advisor of the university's MUN delegation, will moderate the event.

Time and place

The event will take place on Monday, 20 April 2026, in Lecture Hall II at Wittelsbacherplatz 1, starting at 18:00. Registration is not required.