Zohran Mamdani: Mayor, Major, Merger

In January, Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City. Through a mix of online campaigning as well as traditional grassroots efforts, he was able to render a massive following. Still, his win came as a surprise to many: Mamdani is a democratic socialist outspoken on issues of migration, religion and taxing the rich, whose aim is to restructure the U.S. political system. What are his political aspirations, and how realistic are they?

Americanists Bianca Pander, Tim Jelfs and Rixt van Dongera discuss what Mamdani’s win means for Trump’s America, as well as its broader relevance for the Netherlands. Despite their different political climates and electoral traditions, Dutch campaign managers tend to look at the U.S. for inspiration. How do U.S. politics influence or shape Dutch political discourse?

Tim Jelfs is an Assistant Professor in American Studies at the University of Groningen. He specializes in the cultural, literary, environmental and political history of the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Bianca Pander studied in Arizona, did an internship in Washington DC and has been involved in several American elections as a volunteer. Even today, as one of the owners of BKB The Campaign Office, she is involved in campaigning on a daily basis.

American Studies alumni Rixt van Dongera gives lectures and organizes workshops on American politics and campaigns. As moderator, she hosts conferences, facilitates panel discussions and conducts live in-depth interviews. 

In collaboration with the Master's program American Studies.