edited by robert wolff
USA: A new era?
The rise of the other America
S. Kaluvas
«We have a long road ahead of us, but tonight, thanks to what we achieved in this critical election, America turns the page» is what Barack Obama said in front of the 200,000 of his supporters at Chicagos Grand Park, after the victorious presidential election results. «The road ahead of us will be long» he said· and continued: «Our rise is tough. There is the possibility that we dont get there in a year, or even a in a term. But I have never been more optimistic than I am today that we will get to the end». Indeed Barack Obama is bound to face an array of challenges. The USA slips through the worst crises ever since the 1929 depression and he is now called upon to save the American middle class. His second most important bet is the removal of the American military forces from Iraq, as well as terrorism. On the other hand, Obama has stated that among his primary goals is the enhancement of Americans ties with its traditional allies, including several European countries. European leaders on their end also state their readiness for a fresh start with the USA. The USA-Russia strained relationship as well as environmental and energy policies are two more thorny issues to be tackled. Will the new President be able to inaugurate a new chapter in the history of the superpower?
It is difficult for someone to describe the situation in American on Tuesday night, when the announcement for Barack Obamas victory was made. The enthusiasm and emotion were unprecedented. The former Secretary of State Colin Powel described the night that reminded Christmas or New Years celebrations, a description better that any other. How can such a rush be explained? And what does Obamas triumph signify?
Lets begin with the second leg of the query. During the past eight years the United States experienced some dead-end situations, which were a result of ideological fanaticism coupled with consistent bad administration. The disaster at New Orleans, the Iraq fiasco and the collapse of the banking system were the highlights of an eight-year teem that was mainly based on a blind faith in an extreme ideology. From this perspective Obamas victory can be constituted as a political correction and signifies Americas return to pragmatism and the center.
However, how does this pragmatism coexist with the utter enthusiasm and the unprecedented mobilization that led to Obamas triumph? Theres obviously a racial symbolism: many African Americans didnt even have voting rights 50 years ago and lynching was not uncommon in the South during the 20s.
The significance in Obamas victory, however, overcomes this, by all means, extremely important symbolism: it expresses the outbreak of the other America, which after Vietnam was politically marginalized.
This other America, which could be found in close-knitted university campuses, in Hollywood and in new technologies, in New York, in San Francisco and some other cities, had the traumatic experience to see the predominance of an ideology that was represented by the departing President Bush, the blithe Sarah Palin and also the tragicomic presence of Joe the Plumber, McCains presidential campaigns central element. The arrogance, aggressiveness, obscurantism and contempt for science, along with the hillbilliness, the indifference for major international issues such as the environment and the fixation for a religious faith thats stuck in the mud, became synonymous with America. The other America lost every political ground, since the prevalence of the opinion that imitating the Republicans was a one-way road to power was enforced as the predominant dogma in the hearts of a scared and timid Democratic Party. Its last representative, Hillary Clinton, who voted for the war in Iraq, based her decision on this exact logic.
Barack Obama gave this other America, a voice. Armed with support from young voters and the end of the war in Iraq as his keynote address, he found in this other America his first political support, and thus achieve to prevail in the critical primaries of Iowa last January. That victory ensured him the African American communitys attention and led him to his victory on the primaries. The Latinos were added in the team by the summer. The last piece of the puzzle was the white middle and working class, who made a decisive turn after the recent collapse of the markets.
The rise of the other America into power is a victory on its own right. This victory can also be deemed as a unique opportunity during these challenging times not just for the other America but the entire world. The challenges and difficulties are infinite. With his ability to inspire and mobilize the most powerful part of America and his victory in the electoral marathon, Barack Obama proved that he has the vision and the judgment to be a trailblazer.
Mr. Stathis Kaluvas is a Political Science Professor at Yale University.
http://tovima.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=B&f=15506&m=B20&aa=1
To Vima, November 9th, 2008
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