The growing use of the internet by citizens (blogs, social networks, on-line donations, etc...) certainly impacts the way politics are done in the United States. However, the internet may not be as democratizing a political tool as it seems. The author, François Vergniolle de Chantal, is a lecturer at the University of Burgundy and the co-editor-in-chief of the review Politique Américaine.

Since the beginning of 2009, conservatism in America has morphed into a spontaneous and decentralized form called the Tea Party Movement. Anne-Lorraine Bujon, a distinguished commentator on U.S. policy and society, analyses this new phase in American history.

Congress and the Administration have launched a series of space policy reviews in 2009, regarding in particular Nasa's exploration policy, the loosening of ITAR regulations and space security. On each of these issues, the U.S. government may adopt more international-leaning policies in 2010.

On the eve of the Copenhagen Conference, this note takes stock of the evolutions of the different U.S. actors on climate change and the environment. The author, Yves-Marie Péréon teaches American Civilization at the Université de Rouen.
With this publication, the U.S. Program at Ifri launches its new collection of on-line notes, the Potomac papers.