At the heart of the rise of right-wing nationalism in Europe and North America lies the failure of political leaders to grapple effectively with the decline of traditional industrial heartlands and its consequences. People in these regions often feel left behind, economically and culturally displaced, suspicious of globalisation and trade, and mistrustful of democratic institutions. Against the background of geoeconomic shifts, policymakers have responded. A new era of industrial policy (e.g. the Inflation Reduction Act or the EU’s Green Industrial Plan) seeks to improve people’s living situation and working conditions in the industrial heartlands while transforming carbon industries and reducing dependence on authoritarian regimes, most notably China. Setting the scene with the results of a new opinion polling by Das Progressive Zentrum, the Progressive Policy Institute and Georgetown University, this session will discuss new industrial policy of investing in workers while considering foreign policy, trade and climate and its challenges in Europe and the US.