Original on : www.neurope.eu/articles/94608.php
Obama as an omnilateralist – is he open to all?
Issue: 837 Posted: June 07 2009
During his State of the Union address in 2002, then US president George W. Bush unilaterally listed North Korea along with Iran and Iraq in the what he called the Axis of Evil. His motto was, “You’re with us, or against us!” Together with his Vice-President Dick Cheney, he became the incarnation of unilateralism, declarations and actions emanating from the White House without much ado or consideration for others. Few, even amongst the allies or foreign governments, and much less the UN were consulted when American unilateralism peaked with the war in Iraq. President Barack Obama, who went to the Middle East last week to woo Muslims, showed even before he became president that he was ready to listen and during his election campaign demonstrated an omnilateral approach, by raising most of his money not from a few big spenders – as Bush did, mainly from the oil industry - but from millions of small engaging donours in America, mainly through the Internet. This provided him with a much broader basis and political independence. Now he has proclaimed a policy of omnilateral openness towards Africa, North Korea and Iran, and made overtures to Cuba and the Taliban. Obama, whose father was Kenyan, had been particularly outspoken as a Senator on US policy towards Africa. Early on, he advocated opening dialogue with Iran, since he recognised that the war in Iraq strengthened Iran’s influence in the region, and he wanted Iran to play a more constructive role with Iraq. Obama also has supported developing an international coalition to handle the nuclear issue of North Korea, and says he supports “sustained, direct, and aggressive diplomacy.” In a September 2008 presidential debate, Obama said a lack of diplomatic engagement with North Korea led the country to significantly increase its nuclear capacity. In his first extensive interview since taking office as Obama went as far as pointing out his childhood in predominantly Muslim Indonesia to open up to his audience on Arab TV. On his first day in office he phoned major leaders in the Middle East and he was voted the “most respected” amongst world leaders in the West. So, is Obama the new Omnilateralist, opening the West to the rest and to all sides? Will his administration - to the Muslim world and others – really “seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect” as he said in his inaugural address? Will the Americans “extend a hand” if the others are willing to unclench the fist? Or is the American nation still so deeply “at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred” (Obama’s inaugural address) that Omnilateralism, namely governance for and by all, remains a dream of some Kantian idealists in Europe, but cannot persuade the new American leadership? An American move towards such Omnilateralism could lead to more participatory international politics which is a dire need not only for global goods like the trans-border environment, but now obviously also for regulating global finance to tackle the current economic crisis. Mere multilateral solutions through a Washington Consensus or the traditional institutions of the UN, IMF etc. might not suffice anymore, as too many major players – public or private, North or South, West or East— do not feel properly represented. While we widen the circles from G7 to G20, many more - also NGOs - want their voices heard. If President Obama starts to open the ears of the American administration (his new envoys abroad are told to “listen first”!) he might indeed meet high expectations and become the Omnilateralist, driving a popular omnibus, rather than a gas-guzzling SUV.
Dr. Wolfgang Pape is currently Policy Officer, International Affairs, in DG Enterprise of the European Commission after having studied and served in America and Asia. This commentary does not reflect the position of the European Commission and reflects only the personal opinions of the writer
Obama as an omnilateralist – is he open to all?
Issue: 837 Posted: June 07 2009
During his State of the Union address in 2002, then US president George W. Bush unilaterally listed North Korea along with Iran and Iraq in the what he called the Axis of Evil. His motto was, “You’re with us, or against us!” Together with his Vice-President Dick Cheney, he became the incarnation of unilateralism, declarations and actions emanating from the White House without much ado or consideration for others. Few, even amongst the allies or foreign governments, and much less the UN were consulted when American unilateralism peaked with the war in Iraq. President Barack Obama, who went to the Middle East last week to woo Muslims, showed even before he became president that he was ready to listen and during his election campaign demonstrated an omnilateral approach, by raising most of his money not from a few big spenders – as Bush did, mainly from the oil industry - but from millions of small engaging donours in America, mainly through the Internet. This provided him with a much broader basis and political independence. Now he has proclaimed a policy of omnilateral openness towards Africa, North Korea and Iran, and made overtures to Cuba and the Taliban. Obama, whose father was Kenyan, had been particularly outspoken as a Senator on US policy towards Africa. Early on, he advocated opening dialogue with Iran, since he recognised that the war in Iraq strengthened Iran’s influence in the region, and he wanted Iran to play a more constructive role with Iraq. Obama also has supported developing an international coalition to handle the nuclear issue of North Korea, and says he supports “sustained, direct, and aggressive diplomacy.” In a September 2008 presidential debate, Obama said a lack of diplomatic engagement with North Korea led the country to significantly increase its nuclear capacity. In his first extensive interview since taking office as Obama went as far as pointing out his childhood in predominantly Muslim Indonesia to open up to his audience on Arab TV. On his first day in office he phoned major leaders in the Middle East and he was voted the “most respected” amongst world leaders in the West. So, is Obama the new Omnilateralist, opening the West to the rest and to all sides? Will his administration - to the Muslim world and others – really “seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect” as he said in his inaugural address? Will the Americans “extend a hand” if the others are willing to unclench the fist? Or is the American nation still so deeply “at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred” (Obama’s inaugural address) that Omnilateralism, namely governance for and by all, remains a dream of some Kantian idealists in Europe, but cannot persuade the new American leadership? An American move towards such Omnilateralism could lead to more participatory international politics which is a dire need not only for global goods like the trans-border environment, but now obviously also for regulating global finance to tackle the current economic crisis. Mere multilateral solutions through a Washington Consensus or the traditional institutions of the UN, IMF etc. might not suffice anymore, as too many major players – public or private, North or South, West or East— do not feel properly represented. While we widen the circles from G7 to G20, many more - also NGOs - want their voices heard. If President Obama starts to open the ears of the American administration (his new envoys abroad are told to “listen first”!) he might indeed meet high expectations and become the Omnilateralist, driving a popular omnibus, rather than a gas-guzzling SUV.
Dr. Wolfgang Pape is currently Policy Officer, International Affairs, in DG Enterprise of the European Commission after having studied and served in America and Asia. This commentary does not reflect the position of the European Commission and reflects only the personal opinions of the writer
