Will Obama Follow Soviet Road to Disaster?

He Liangliang – Phoenix TV Commentator

In the one hundred days since Obama, the American president, took office, his diplomatic style has swept away Bush’s unilateralism and American arrogance; it is very impressive. This has certainly also led to fierce opposition by America’s right-wing groups. Some U.K. and U.S. media have started to compare Obama with the last Soviet leader, Gorbachev. This type of analogy is clearly due to one concern. If Obama continues, according to the present style, to carry out diplomacy as well as internal affairs, it could possibly cause the U.S. to follow the Soviet road to disaster. The way in which Gorbachev’s reform caused the Soviet Union to disintegrate is still a vivid memory of the people.

Actually, in regards to changes in diplomacy, in comparison to Gorbachev, Obama’s reform has been even faster. After Gorbachev took office as the General Secretary of the Community Party of the Soviet Union, it was only after 18 months that he then began to push forward “the new thought” diplomacy. But with Obama’s recent tour of Europe and participation in the Americas summit meetings; he has already formed a brand-new style. The style includes listening (to the opinions of other countries) and making contacts (his desire is more contact and communication with countries). The image of a falling American empire has started to improve, and it all depends on Obama’s brand-new style.

Obama is not Gorbachev; the U.S. is not the Soviet Union. Although between the two there are similarities: the countries’ land areas are vast, the ethnic groups are numerous, and both have abundant natural resources. But in regards to cultural aspects, the two are completely different. The Soviet Union has inherited the czarist government tradition, whereas the U.S. was founded as a democratic republic. Even though both have a tradition of imperialism, the styles of the two are not really similar. In regards to the use of soft power, the Soviet Union is far behind the United States.

Gorbachev’s reform of the Soviet Union took the Soviet Union down the road of death – this is the individual tragedy of Gorbachev, and it is Russia’s tragedy. If Obama’s actions ultimately offend large U.S. interest groups, a tragic outcome will also be inevitable.