A Year of Living Dangerously: Expectations Undermining Public Diplomacy

Helle Dale / November 04, 2009

International expectations went through the roof one year ago today with the election of Barack Obama. The United Stated had elected the man whom many across the globe expected to be the anti-Bush. As controversial abroad as President Bush’s stance on the long war against terrorism had been, just as euphoric was the reaction to the election of the Democratic presidential nominee. The jubilation reflected a belief that as president, Obama would think less like an American and more like the rest of the world – however that was defined.

During the presidential campaign, candidate Obama had done much to encourage this belief. In his July speech in front of the Victory column in Berlin, Obama set the theme for many of his later foreign policy speeches, the apology for American actions. “I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we’ve struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We’ve made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lives up to its best intentions.” The German audience and the world lapped it up. (more…)