What Americans Really Think About Trade: A Conversation with Alexandra Guisinger

Senior Fellow Micah Zenko speaks with Temple University Assistant Professor of Political Science Alexandra Guisinger about her new book, American Opinion on Trade: Preferences Without Politics, and how gender and race affect support for trade protection.

Play Button Pause Button
0:00 0:00
x

Show Notes

American perceptions of trade became a critical part of the 2016 presidential election, and has remained at the center of U.S. public discourse since President Donald Trump took office. To understand why Americans feel the way they do about international trade, I was very fortunate to speak with Alexandra Guisinger, assistant professor of political science at Temple University, who has an excellent new book out this week that I highly recommend, American Opinion on Trade: Preferences Without Politics.

Professor Guisinger’s book is a fascinating study of how gender and race affect support for trade protection. We discuss her brilliant study of 531 trade-related campaign ads that feature largely only white men, and whether “economic anxiety” is actually found in surveys of Americans. She also sheds light on just how much the U.S. steel industry—which Trump has been fixated with—really contributes to the economy, and predicts whether we can expect trade to remain a salient issue in American politics. Professor Guisinger also provides valuable advice to young scholars and those interested in a career in political science and international relations.

Listen to our conversation, and be sure to check out Professor Guisinger’s new book, American Opinion on Trade: Preferences Without Politics.

Politics and Government

I was joined this week by Daniel Drezner, professor of international politics at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and regular contributor to the Washington Post. Professor…

Middle East and North Africa

Zenko is joined by Steven A. Cook, CFR's Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies. They discuss Cook's latest book, False Dawn: Protest, Democracy, and Violence in the New Middle East, and U.S. policy in the Middle East and North Africa.

Cybersecurity

I spoke with the brilliant Beau Woods, security researcher, deputy director of the cyber statecraft initiative at the Atlantic Council, and founder of Stratigos Security. Woods is also the co-founder…

Top Stories on CFR

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

With both summits ahead, European leaders will have two opportunities to convince Trump about the importance of aiding Ukraine and ensuring European security.

Immigration and Migration

The White House’s latest travel ban imposes restrictions on citizens from nineteen countries. Many of those affected are contending with crises at home.

Economics

There is too much talk about the dollar’s role as a reserve currency and too little talk about expectations of exceptional returns. Reserve accumulation hasn’t driven the financing of the U.S. current account deficit in recent years.