A Historic Event Does Not Make A Historic Presidency

Obama is to be the 44th President of the USA and for what it's worth I'm glad. That this is a historic event is beyond doubt, but only time will tell if Obama's much vaunted "Change" will happen and if it will be change for the better. Only time will tell if this historic event translates into a historic Presidency.

Foreign interest and comment upon their elections and President is, I think, quite confusing for many Americans. I remember talking to an American who lived here in Scotland for a year who could not understand why you news carried so much American news. Yet interest in this election by the British press and public seems to have reached new heights. Perhaps there was similar interest in the Kennedy, Nixon races and Presidencies, but as I was not alive then I can't really comment. This interest is to some extent justified given that America's actions both home and foreign affect the rest of the world and in particular the "west". However it has been interesting to read on British people's Facebook status's comments like "we did it". Who is the "we" referred to here given "we" don't have a vote?

I find this heightened interest in America by those of us here in the UK particularly fascinating given that America has for a number of years now been in decline with regards to its global standing and influence. The economic, demographic and technological growth of both China and India dilutes what America says and does. If the present economic crisis has shown anything it has shown that America can't solve its own problems on its own, never-mind solve the rest of the worlds problems. So I wonder when India next goes to the polls if we will have similar media coverage of that event here in the UK? America's power has also been diluted by state's whose power is linked to energy. While this is not new - in the 1970's the power of OPEC was very clear - what is new is the extent that a country like America is dependent on oil from abroad. Likewise, Europe and the UK in particular has a growing dependency on oil from abroad which has to a great degree funded and facilitated a "resurgent Russia". Yet unlike the days of the Cold War we cannot just have a parallel existence with Russia, we cannot ignore Russia (or censure her as in the past) for we need her - her oil and gas - too much. Thus Russia is no longer just a military power but has unprecedented power within our capitalist system.

So my excitement at Obama's election is curbed. We don't live in a one horse world, nor do we live in a world where organised politics can do all the work that needs to be done.

Comments

[fernando]

We focus disproportionately on the US Presidential election because American foreign and economic policies disproportionately effect the world's citizens. When I think of my friends in Delhi, their security and peace of mind is directly disturbed by conflicts fomented by US foreign policy. Here in Hong Kong, there are very real economic effects that are a direct consequence of US economic policy.

[brodie]

Fernando - I find myself in broad agreement with you comment. America and her policies do disproportionately affect many of the worlds citizens. What I am suggesting is that the proportion of influence / power has changed and is changing. Thus while we rightly pay attention to this important historic event we also need to have our eyes open to who else is significant in these spheres of power be that political, economic or cultural.