The Obama Presidency: A Preliminary Assessment

Chapter 5: Obamania in Europe

67 Chapter 5 Obamania in Europe Marie des Neiges Léonard The Ambiguities of an American Dream Obama’s election in 2008 was undoubtedly an historic event both in the United States and around the world, and the election itself was closely watched by media worldwide. Numerous articles, editorials , and political commentaries in the European press reacted to Obama’s election with strong emotions. For instance, on November 5, 2008, The Times of London’s front page showed a picture of President Barack Obama with the words “THE NEW WORLD” emblazoned in block letters, while the French newspaper Libération showed a close-up of Obama with the headline “An American Dream.” Most political observers and polls point to the Europeans having generally positive reactions and attitudes to Obama’s election. Opinion polls in Europe show that, had Europeans been the ones voting, the former Illinois senator would have won the election with an enormous margin. Indeed, as political observers have noted, Obama’s election to the presidency encouraged Europeans to dream of a new era in transatlantic relations and of a new America, not the least because he embodies the image of a pluralist America that Europeans admire. In this sense, the attitudes of Europeans have been compared to something of an infatuation or elation, which translates into the idea of “Obamania.” It has even been suggested that Obama is somewhat of a political pop star in Europe. 68 / The Obama Presidency This chapter examines Europe’s love affair with Obama from the time of his campaign, through his 2008 election, and during the first two years of his presidency. Through a media analysis of the European press, it appears that the euphoria toward Obama in Europe can be linked to two main factors: 1) a counter-reaction to the negative attitudes and perceptions Europeans had of George W. Bush’s character and administration, as Obama seems to represent the “Other” America; and 2) the positive hopes and expectations of European minority populations for whom Obama embodies American democracy as well as the America of pioneers and possibilities, and the New American Dream. However, although the love affair between Obama and Europe seems steady, political observers have argued the following: 1. There seems to be a disconnect between the longing for an “other” America based on an opposition to Bush and the attitudes of Europeans toward the U.S. foreign policy. 2. There seems to be a disconnect between what Europeans admire, and perhaps idealize, in Obama (what he represents to them) and what is happening at their own borders (regarding the access of minorities to power). This chapter explores those ambiguities and what they might mean for future transatlantic relations. Obama as the Antithesis of Bush Under the Bush presidency, the United States experienced a deficit of positive political image around the world. Several scholars (Forsberg 2010; Gordon 2004) argued that the negative attitudes and criticisms against the United States really come from a reaction to and rejection of the Bush administration’s policies and Bush’s personal image, rather than resentment toward America in general. As Philip Gordon writes: “the European public is not as ‘anti-American’, as is often assumed, but it is quite anti-Bush” (Gordon 2004: 188). Indeed, the Bush era can be characterized by negative attitudes and distrust toward the United States, and an anti-American bias. In fact, claims Forsberg (2010: 218), “ ‘AntiAmericanism ’ became the catchword in transatlantic relations during the George W. Bush presidency.” And these strong negative views deteriorated between 2002 and 2009. So it seems that the disapproval of U.S. leadership is not based on fundamental differences in values, but rather—or at least Obamania in Europe / 69 in part—on views the Europeans have of the president of the United States, which they distinguish from their views of the United States as a country. As Robert Singh (2006: 43) notes, “there exists a pronounced tendency among non-Americans to associate—and judge—the nation according to the incumbent in the Oval Office.” This is true even to the point that supporting the “wrong” American presidency might prove costly politically, as argued by Dorman (2010). Indeed, Dorman claims that Blair’s connection to Bush did tremendous “damage to him domestically” (Dorman 2010: 81). It is even argued that Blair’s allegiance to Bush drove him out of office because of the public dissatisfaction with his government...