Blog Post #1 - Sammy Pisano - Global Issues

 For the longest time, I had this perception that nothing the United States would do domestically would have an impact in Central Europe and the entire world. I have since come to see that this is far from the truth. I then started reading more about global issues after traveling to Europe with my family. While going on this trip, I have noticed very stereotypical answers about how Americans are perceived by Europeans, and they are usually very negative ones. After observing these cultural differences in the countries, it sparked my interest in how Europe's culture differs from that of the U.S., and I became interested in exploring and learning about why these assumptions are made. I have tried to continue to track what is happening on key global issues, even though I find it difficult due to domestic politics being a lot more potent. I like to read articles from the New York Times, Reuters, and Fox to stay informed about what is happening around the world. Through this, I have realized that policy decisions made by the United States, whether it is economic, political, or military, can often influence global markets and our alliances. I think that the United States has a very big impact on the countries in Central Europe. An example of this is that the United States regularly sends troops over to Europe for training that benefits both us and the respective countries. These partnerships not only strengthen our defense capabilities but also our alliances with other countries. One of the most obvious examples at this time that has fractured our relationship with Central Europe is President Trump's tariff war, which he has started, as he has now targeted goods exported out of the country. This has hurt the United States relationship with Central Europe, as it has impacted their economies and trade. Thus, because of this tension with the United States, Central Europe and Germany especially have not needed to up their spending on specific industries because the U.S has pulled back from specific industries such as Energy and Trade. In response, some Central European countries have been forced to prioritize greater economic independence and find potential alternatives to their trade partners, which will hurt the United States. This shows how things that happen domestically can have a big impact on policy in other countries in Central Europe. This has made me realize how important it is to be a globally aware person as the policies being made can impact Central Europe in a big way.



Comments

  1. Keith W.May 24, 2026 at 2:56 AM

    Excellent work! Far too often Americans reside in their bubble and fail to critically think about the implications of American policy on other countries. It is comforting to know that students on this trip already have a global mindset and are keeping up with global politics and news. You made a great point about the potential short-term gains in light of long-term losses in regard to our current political and economic policies.

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  2. HalelMay 24, 2026 at 5:28 AM

    Hello, Sammie
    This is excellent. Your post perfectly articulates to point I was struggling to pass across in my post. A lot of Americans really are in a bubble and do not realize that American politics is very influencial globally. As a result, many people support policies that may not be beneficial to both the US and the world in general.
    I do not believe this is intentional, neither are they themselves to be blame. I believe it is merely as a result of gaps in the K-12 system. Forgive me if I am reaching, but I do believe the US society will do a lot better politcally (both domestically and internationally) if reforms to the K-12 sylllabus are made to include a little bit more global education.

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  3. DanielMay 24, 2026 at 5:35 AM

    I think you have some fantastic analysis of how domestic policies in the US can impact Central Europe and our relationship with them. I know from our conversations that you are keeping a really great watch on domestic issues and have really well-developed views of them. I think your view on troop exchanges is especially interesting and something I hadn't thought of! I'm curious what cultural differences you've noticed on this trip and what particular things are in European culture that are less present in the States.

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