The Final Result

The decisive victory of the Democratic candidate in the U.S. elections was surprising because it corresponded precisely with the results of polls. At the eve of the elections, many were wondering whether the U.S. was ready for a president of color and whether the hands of those intending to vote for the black candidate would tremble at the very last moment. Americans voted as they promised, disapproving the ‘yes’ in writing and ‘no’ in mind. The outcome of the elections is being analyzed in the United States and beyond its borders, as it is important to understand what happened on November 4th and for the world to know what it should do to prepare.

The crisis inside the United States turned out to be graver than expected. Even at the symbolical level, Americans expressed the desire for fundamental changes by electing, for the first time in the history of the United States of America, a black president. The result of the elections demonstrates not only the extent of social maturity; it also exposes the public demand for a change in the political course. The current administration’s policies contributed to this demand significantly. Mr. McCain was unable to dissociate himself from Mr. Bush, and that, probably, was the decisive factor in the result of the elections. It remains to be answered, however, whether this result reflects a long-term trend or just the factors that worked there and then.

Perhaps Barack Obama’s most difficult task will be to fulfill the public hopes for fundamental changes in political and economic course. In spite of his firm determination, this task will not be easy to accomplish. Moreover, Obama’s success depends not just on himself and his team.

It will be hard to abandon the burden of Bush’s legacy. Obama can promise to withdraw the U.S. troops from Iraq in so many months., but at what price will that be accomplished? If the Iraqi government, propped up by the Americans, collapses and bloody chaos ensues, it will be difficult for Obama to be forgiven for discontinuing the American venture in Iraq.

The majority of the rest of the world has set high hopes for Obama, anticipating changes in the U.S. foreign policy and in the country’s policy of economic egoism in tackling economic and financial problems. However, Obama must deliver on promises that he made to the people who voted for him in the United States. These different hopes may well be contradictory, and it is known all too well in whose favor the United States resolves such contradictions…

The Russian Federation has all reasons for hoping that the new faces in Washington, D.C. will bring about positive changes–assuming, of course, that they will be truly new. Obama’s advisors include many of those politicians who are not eager to change the American policy toward Russia. Moreover, the Bush’s legacy does not inspire any hopes, as it entails the anti-missile defense system in Europe and unconditional support of the Saakashvili regime. Still unclear is how the new administration will address the Ukrainian question, an all-important issue for Russia. Rough and unreasoned policies of Bush’s team (like, for instance, the failed campaign in Iraq) antagonized Europe and somewhat contributed to the rapprochement between Europe and Russia. However, now Europe will have a new idol, and the transatlantic alliance will get a new lifeline, possibly, at expense of the good relations between Europe and Russia. Through its president, Russia has suggested a possibility of the trilateral relationship between Russia, the European Union, and the United States. This trilateral alliance is the most reasonable course of action for us Russians, under the new circumstances. If we are going to come forward with a positive agenda for our partners, demonstrating power and not a threat, firmness but not stubbornness, pursuance of our interests but not appropriation of the interests of others, we will be able to contain the anti-Russian sentiment in the new dialogue between the United States and Europe.

Barack Obama can chose between two courses of action. He can try to stop Russia, turn it in the eyes of the Americans into yet another Evil Empire, and conspicuously resist it; or he can try to attain a relationship of trust between the two great countries and then be remembered as a leader who finally brought the Cold War to a complete end. The course of action that will be taken depends not only on Obama and his advisors; it also depends on Russia. We have a historical chance, and foregoing it would be a mistake.