Barack Obama's administration – a new beginning or business as usual? Cover Image

ADMINISTRACJA BARACKA OBAMY– ILE PRZEŁOMU, ILE KONTYNUACJI?
Barack Obama's administration – a new beginning or business as usual?

Author(s): Jadwiga Stachura
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Obama; Barack Obama; USA; Hillary Clinton; John McCain; administracja Obamy;

Summary/Abstract: In the United States, the assumption of the presidency by Barack Obama was accompanied by widespread expectations that the economic crisis would be overcome, that US leadership on the international stage would be strengthened, and her decline in infl uence halted. The desire to see the US take action, which can be so clearly discerned in various regions of the world, has boosted the authority of the new administration as has the improving image of the US worldwide, in large part thanks to the president’s popularity. Barack Obama's administration has promised radical changes in many areas of US foreign policy, but the scale and character of these changes is still diffi cult to evaluate. The formation and implementation of the new administration's foreign policy will be heavily infl uenced by the effects of the crisis in the USA and throughout the world which will restrict the White House's freedom of action, and the need for foreign policy continuity due to the global extent of American interests. The fi rst decisions taken by President Obama indicate that his foreign policy shift's will include those elements for which his predecessor was most criticized – the manner in which foreign policy was carried out and the leadership style manifested. The new administration, to a greater degree than that of George W. Bush, is positively inclined towards diplomacy, multilateral operations, and cooperation with allies and partners, especially regional powers. Obama's government has approached Russia, Iran and the parties to the Israeli-Palestinian confl ict with fresh policy initiatives. We may assume that the foreign policy of the White House's new incumbent will be characterized by a high degree of "realism". In certain areas (Asia, and Europe to an extent) the Obama administration will continue – of course with some modifi cations – the pragmatic policies of the Bush government in its fi nal stages.

  • Issue Year: 39/2009
  • Issue No: 1-2
  • Page Range: 9-28
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: Polish