Impact of US mid-term Elections

Why in news?

The Democratic Party has got majority in the House of Representatives, while the Republican Party increased its majority in the Senate during the recently held mid-term elections in U.S.

What are the likely outcomes of this result?

• The polarisation between older, white males who are the supporters of Mr. Trump and the younger, multi-ethnic coalition backing Hillary Clinton would now be reflected in the American politics.
• The new Democratic representatives are diverse and the House will be the first to have over 100 women.
• Since the Republicans have strengthened their lead in the Senate, it would be more control over the foreign relations and domestic institutional oversight.

How this result will affect foreign relations?

• The White House and Senate have always been more impactful with respect to the foreign affairs.
• And from the decisions taken in the past, Presidents who have lost mid-term elections have instead pursued their chosen policies with even greater determination.
• Yet there would be a new cautiousness in the inward focused US actions as certain areas like Trade will have to face a vote in the Democratic House.
•  There is uncertainty whether the Democratic majority will unite around the anti-Beijing moves which has been one characteristic of Mr Trump’s trade negotiators.
• But there is now a check, even if a relatively small one against Mr. Trump’s attempts to rewrite the post-War world order.
• And the American capital focused on partisan wrangling will less likely devote energy to the rest of the world.

Source: Business Standard