What Will B. Obama Mean for Globalization?

Résumé du document

On November 4th, 2008, Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States. He beat Senator McCain by 6.9 percentage points. For many individuals (Americans and foreigners), the outcome of this election has been regarded as a turning point for America, not only because Obama is the first black president in American history, but also because his projects are in total rupture with those followed through or promoted by Bush and his associates in the past eight years. Thus, Obama's election is likely to cause a switch in the direction of American politics, not only with respect to national issues, but also global issues. Moreover, as the United States is the first economy in the world and a military giant, Obama's decisions as the new president are likely to affect the world as a whole; especially as other nations are becoming more and more globalized (countries are becoming more interdependent). Obama's multinational background pushes some people to believe that he will promote and encourage globalization, however, the dreadful economic situation of the United States, triggered in part by a globalization frenzy gone wild, could suggest otherwise. What will Barack Obama mean for globalization?

Extraits

[...] His goal is also to convince developing countries to participate profitably in the global carbon market. Obama has also created a new energy plan for America, in which he intends to increase the number of “plug in to ensure that 10 percent of electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012 and 25 percent by 2025, to “implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce gas emissions 80 percent by 2050”. Obama also encourages the developing of wind and solar power and the creating of fuel efficient cars. [...]

[...] What will Obama mean for developing countries? In the 21st century, progress must mean more than a vote at the ballot box it must mean freedom from fear and freedom from want” Obama having himself origins from Africa expresses the importance of helping developing countries. Obama focuses on fighting poverty (especially in Africa) by doubling the annual investment in foreign assistance (from 25 billion dollars in 2008 to 50 billions dollars by the end of his first term. Moreover, Obama plans to make the Millennium Development Goals, which aim to cut poverty in half by 2015. [...]

[...] Obama also intends to encourage more American companies to invest on the African continent. Moreover Obama plans to launch the Global Energy and Environment Initiative to make sure that African countries can have access to low carbon energy technologies; thus helping those countries develop their economy without compromising the world's efforts to lower greenhouse effect gazes. However with the surge of the subprime crisis in the United States, crushing the economy: the debt keeps growing, companies are going bankrupt, Obama's initial project to help by all means developing countries may be postponed. [...]

[...] Furthermore, Obama appears to be more serious in tackling global issues such as climate change as shown by his new energy plan for America. Therefore Obama's election appears to be very positive for globalization. However, all these changes need a lot of money and with the extent of the subprime crisis these changes may have to be postponed. During the first presidential debate, Obama had already expressed his concern on not being able to follow through all of his initial projects due to the crisis. [...]

[...] Obama Mean for Globalization? On November the 4th Barack Obama was elected 44th president of the United States, beating Senator McCain by 6.9 percentage points. For many individuals (Americans and foreigners), the outcome of this election has been regarded as a turning point for America, not only because B. Obama is the first black president in American history, but also because his projects are in total rupture with those followed through or promoted by Bush and his associates during eight years. [...]