It is a widely known fact that Barack Obama is the favored candidate in the upcoming 2008 United States Presidential election as far as Europe is concerned. There are several different speculations as to why this might be.
Many European nations see Obama as a symbol of “soft power.” Joseph Nye a Harvard professor popularized the term oft power to describe “the capacity to gain support through attraction rather than force.” Is this necessarily a bad thing? Many people believe that this will lead to a more peaceful nation, while others argue that this is the demeanor of a democratic candidate you wants to pull troops from Iraq.
In addition many European nations are ready for a political party change in the United States presidency. Since the attacks on 9/11 president Bush has been the center of international foreign relations. Due to his recession is global popularity it is not unheard of for European nations to favor a Democratic candidate.
Although Obama majored in international relations at the Columbia University; Baracks lack of experience not only foreign relations but global politics in general does not seem to bother many European nations.
1 comment:
"...soft power, 'the capacity to gain support through attraction rather than force.' Is this necessarily a bad thing?"
This is exactly what I fear about Obama being elected. He represents, to me, "Kinder, Gentler Imperialism." As in, his "soft power" allows him to look ok to the rest of the world while still engaging in American imperialism, which I would argue is inherently bad and unnacceptable. Basically, but putting it forward as "spreading democratic institutions" and not look like a power-mongering crazy person (like Bush), people won't challenge him on it. But what still underlies all of it is the idea that democracy is inherently the best government system, that it is the truth for everyone, and that every nation-state should have a democratic government--which, I would argue, is false.
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