Politics

Renouer avec le leadership américain

Dec 21, 2015 Ana Palacio

MADRID – Le mois de décembre nous offre chaque année l’opportunité de prendre un instant pour réfléchir à ce que nous enseigne le passé, et à ce que nous réserve l’avenir. L’une des conclusions de l’année qui s’achève réside en ce que les États-Unis demeurent aujourd’hui solidement ancrés au cœur de l’ordre mondial libéral. Autre enseignement, il est nécessaire que l’Amérique s’attelle davantage à gouverner dans la lignée de ce qu’exige sa carrure internationale.

Les doutes sur la pérennité du leadership américain se répandent depuis plusieurs années. Mais bien que se profile à l’horizon ce nouvel ordre mondial multipolaire que beaucoup évoquent, la réalité veut que pour l’heure les efforts de résolution des défis globaux – qu’il s’agisse des changements climatiques ou du conflit au Moyen-Orient – nécessitent l’implication des États-Unis.

Malheureusement, le discours faisant état d’un déclin américain a été si massivement formulé ces dernières années que les dirigeants américains eux-mêmes semblent avoir commencé à y croire, poursuivant des politiques fébriles et parcellaires (voire, dans certains cas, ne prenant aucune mesure). Or, l’approche modérée appliquée par le président Barack Obama en matière de politique étrangère semble alimenter l’instabilité mondiale plutôt que l’atténuer.

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0 Comments on this paragraph, 14 Comments on this article

lt lee Dec 23, 2015

Obama won by Millenials' vote yet he took money from older generations. His administration is schizophrenic from the get go. America could not renew its leadership until the Millennials are firmly in power. At present, the US is at the thresold of its fourth turning. The situation is similar to 1770s, 1850s, 1930s.
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j. von Hettlingen Dec 22, 2015

As 2015 draws to a close and next year the US elects a new president, Ana Palacio is urging Washington to renew "American leadership," which, after decades of tradtion, is only to be expected. Although Obama’s "restrained foreign-policy approach" and partisan brinkmanship in Congress had cast doubt on America's "continued global leadership" and given the impression of a "multi-polar world order", she thinks the international community still demands "US engagement" to face "global challenges."
The author believes it is high time for "strong action" to secure "the liberal world order" again. This requires Obama to brush aside fears about "repeating his predecessors’ mistakes," and a "hostile Congress" to abandon its "obstructionist" stance and give the president a free hand. Unfortunately it is just wishful thinking. There is a bunch of "Obama-haters" within Congress, who will do anything to undermine his policies.
In 2014 Congress did not approve a capital increase for the International Monetary Fund agreed four years ago. This would allow a doubling of IMF members’ quotas, that would shift voting shares toward dynamic emerging market and developing countries. Frustrated, China decided to have its own Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. By failing to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Congress had "undermined America’s credibility as it attempts to reaffirm international law in the South China Sea, where China is acting with increasing audacity." It had also disapproved of "legally binding climate commitments," plunging the global climate agreement reached in Paris into uncertainty.
Despite setbacks, Obama had been able to reach a nuclear deal with Iran and narrowly secure congressional approval to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement other countries. He still has to persuade a majority of US lawmakers to pass the final deal, and hopes it will be done before he leaves office.
The author says that engagement is "key" to ending political paralysis. There has to be engagement among branches of the US government, between the US government and the public, and between the US and the rest of the world." To put it into actions, the next president will have to forge a good relationship with lawmakers and to reach out to citizens, "whose widespread disaffection constrains – or allows – US leaders to pursue a weak foreign policy."
Ms Palacio claims: "Like many Europeans today, most Americans do not seem to understand – or care to understand – that the crumbling of the liberal world order would have dire consequences for all of them." The problem is that they are too preoccupied with their own personal grievances or worries, that they have turned inward. They maintain domestic affairs and national interests should be prioritised over foreign commitments, and they resent their governments for failing to provide for jobs and public services - housing, education, health care etc. It explains why Hillary Clinton says she wants to revive the middle class, which is struggling for survival. Donald Trump has also promised his supporters - white middle class voters - to make America great again.
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Petey Bee Dec 21, 2015

Re: President Barack Obama’s restrained foreign-policy approach. I am confused. Under Obama's administration, the number of "bad" foreign governments that were proactively counteracted actually increased compared to Bush.

Re: passage of TPA ... "education" of lawmakers? Perhaps "reeducation" would carry a more appropriate flavor

While I agree with the ideals behid this article, it pains me to see the word "engagement" redefined as a synonym for used-car-salesman tactics.
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Aale Hanse Dec 21, 2015

So you think the next presidential election could lead to a new start:..that'll be the day..
The US had the best opportunity to be a good citizen but ended up being a bully and it went to their heads with stupidity and hypercritical actions the hallmark. And to boot, the last eight years have proved that the presidential office is just a figure head to be manipulated at the whim of others. The US still has enough influence in the world to make things right but who is going to hold their breath on that especially with all the hoo haa going on around the world now. It goes without saying that good leadership begets good lasting outcomes but who is able to take that podium today or even tomorrow. The way things are playing out in many countries politically and economically in recent times suggests we will need to wait a generation or two for any decency. As for the middle east drama, it is possible the actions of the last hundred years have climaxed to a point of no return, which means we will have to ride this one out, much to the chagrin of many..
- Curtis Carpenter Dec 21, 2015
  
  Too many of the world's nations whine about a shortage of "good leadership" while offering none of their own -- much less any dependable level of "good followership."
  
  Time for the U.S. to join the rest of the West and embrace the ancient Chinese saying that "by doing nothing, things get done/"
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Garrett Connelly Dec 21, 2015

Students are driven to debt slavery. The middle class is disappearing as death rates are climbing for middle aged whites. Meanwhile, Cubans live as long their northern neighbors and have a healthier old-age.

What other metrics are needed to confirm cultural collapse of a terrorist corporate empire?
- Curtis Carpenter Dec 21, 2015
  
  Rather than (yet) "another metric," I'd suggest that what's needed are some fresh ideas and at least a hint of some acceptable alternatives.
  
  If the "terrorist corporate empire" does indeed collapse, as you seem to hope, you might do well to think about what will fill the resulting vacuum -- for most assuredly something will. Socialism with Chinese characteristics, perhaps?
  
  Something for those "students driven into debt slavery" to think about? And create some _constructive_ positions on?
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Curtis Carpenter Dec 21, 2015

Most countries don't want U.S. "leadership." They want the U.S. to apply its resources to solving their problems.
- Curtis Carpenter Dec 21, 2015
  
  You make my argument for me Garrett Connelly, by indicating that in your view "leadership" can be measured solely in economic terms.
  
  But even if I accepted as adequate an economic metric for "leadership," U.S. official foreign aid at $30.5B is more than twice that of any other country. And the disparity becomes even more pronounced if one takes into account private initiatives and charitable giving.
  
  Meanwhile, where security issues are concerned, Europe continues to beggar its defense spending on the comfortable assurance that the U.S., via NATO, will provide as it has for the last 70 years.
  
  I despise "American exceptionalism." but think the best way to address it is for others in the West to start offering some leadership themselves -- especially in cases where the U.S. has very little at stake (as in Ukraine and the problem of rising Russian assertiveness and aggression).
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- Garrett Connelly Dec 21, 2015
  
  The US gives the least foreign aid of almost any wealthy country — about 0.2%.
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Michael Public Dec 21, 2015

What planet you from, Ana? Americans are not some shining knights in armour who ride around the world fixing things. They typically engage in very dirty tactics abroad from regime toppling to bribery to invasion to whatever it takes - making them no different to anyone else in that regard.
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Marc Laventurier Dec 21, 2015

Quijotesco.
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