DOHA, QATAR – Lansiné Kaba, Thomas M. Kerr Distinguished Career Professor at CMU-Q, spoke on the 2016 US presidential election at an event sponsored by the Diplomatic Institute and CMU-Q.

Kaba spoke to an audience of ambassadors and diplomatic staff, as well as members of industry, government and academia. His talk, titled “The Trump Phenomenon,” addressed an election that is at once historic and unpredictable, with a business mogul turned reality television star squaring off against the first female presidential candidate in the nation’s history. “Has the die already been cast for the 2016 elections? I do not know. Elections take us by surprise, and their outcomes sometimes depend on mysterious forces,” Kaba said.

Kaba outlined how the 2016 election in particular has highlighted the changing demographics in the US—particularly the increase in minorities—and shifting attitudes about issues such as race, immigration, religion and gender roles. “History will tell, and America will continue its journey as a phenomenal nation-state.”