Erik Vollmann & Stefanie Gerstenberger: Election Night – Scientific symposium on the 2024 presidential election in the USA

Applicants: Erik Vollmann & Stefanie Gerstenberger, Institute of Political Science, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Period: 05.11.2024
Participating partners: Jan Evangelista Purkyně University v Ústí nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic | Andrássy University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary | Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

On the evening of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, an academic symposium was held at TU Dresden that focused on the far-reaching political, social, and economic impact of the election on Europe, Germany, and Saxony. The symposium, organized by the Chairs of Political Systems and Comparative Politics and Political Sciences with a focus on International Politics, brought together around 460 guests, including students, experts, and representatives from politics, business, and academia. The event aimed to promote dialogue and foster a deeper understanding of transatlantic relations and the potential impact of the election.

The symposium's agenda featured a variety of presentations, workshops, and panel discussions that provided diverse perspectives on the global impact of the election. Topics such as the role of social media in election campaigns, increasing social polarization, economic relations between Germany and the United States, and current political challenges were highlighted. During the workshops, guests had the opportunity to network with international experts, discuss topics with academics, and contribute their expertise. Students enriched the evening by presenting academic posters that conveyed various aspects of the U.S. election and provided valuable impulses for further discussion.

Group picture of the speakers with life-size cardboard cut-outs of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

A highlight of the evening was the panel discussion with representatives from business and academia, in which the possible implications of the US election were discussed. Another special part of the program was the public viewing of the early election predictions, accompanied by live analyses from international experts, as well as watching the election results come in from the first states. Some students and guests stayed late into the night to follow the events in real time and continue the debate.

"Internationalization is of central importance to us. It promotes exchange and cooperation with international partners, leading to new scientific findings and innovative teaching approaches. Our location in the heart of Europe allows us to strengthen these connections and intensify cross-border cooperation," emphasize Stefanie Gerstenberger and Erik Vollmann.

Laughing students on lecture hall benches.

The event thus contributed to interdisciplinary networking and strengthened TU Dresden's international contacts. In March 2025, TU Dresden launched the teaching and research project re:demo on the promotion of democracy in the Saxon-Czech border region together with the Univerzita J. E. Purkyně v Ústí nad Labem. The goal is also to intensify cooperation with the University of Wrocław.

“Election Night” is a best practice project featuring an innovative event format and includes strategic partners of regional partnerships and various status groups within TU Dresden. The format also served to raise the profile of TU Dresden as a socially important actor in the context of a globally relevant event.

Further information about the project can be found here.

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Daniela Mohrich

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Helene Herwig