Virtual Panel - Presidential Leadership in Crisis: Comparative Institutional Approaches to Defense and Security Threats and Policies, Geopolitical Challenges, and Strategic Competition

Abstract

In an era of escalating security threats, intensifying geopolitical rivalries, and shifting global alliances, presidential leadership faces unprecedented challenges. This panel examines how presidents across diverse political systems navigate crises, focusing on the institutional frameworks that shape their decision-making and the broader implications for domestic governance and international relations. By adopting a comparative institutional approach, this panel explores: • The impact of deteriorating security contexts on presidential powers and their relationships with legislatures, courts, and bureaucracies. • The role of international institutions and strategic alliances in enabling or constraining presidential actions during crises. • The influence of non-institutional actors—such as political elites, media, and civil society—on the exercise of executive authority. • How presidents manage public opinion and legitimacy while balancing national security imperatives with democratic accountability. Drawing on case studies from regions including North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, the panel highlights variations in how institutional arrangements mediate presidential responses to critical issues such as terrorism, pandemics, cyber threats, and great power competition. By integrating theoretical insights with empirical evidence, this session provides a nuanced understanding of the evolving role of the presidency in addressing global security challenges while maintaining institutional integrity. This panel contributes to ongoing debates about executive power in times of crisis by offering comparative lessons on the interplay between institutional constraints and presidential agency. It seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars of political science, international relations, constitutional law, and public policy.

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