Overseas, Excitement Over Obama

After a long campaign, Barack Obama has been named presumptive nominee by analysts and the Democratic Party, an event viewed by many in the international community as “an important racial and generational milestone for the United States,” according to this Washington Post article. “The primary race generated unprecedented interest outside the United States, much of it a reflection of a desire for change from the policies of President Bush, who surveys show is deeply unpopular around the globe,” writes Kevin Sullivan and a team of reporters. Europe and African nations like Kenya anticipate that, because of an immigrant background and childhood experiences in Indonesia, Obama will be better equipped to deal with developing nations; countries concerned about trade and security, like China or Israel, tend to support John McCain, the Republican presumptive nominee. In a fast-changing world, with complicated and conflicting interests, international observers and US voters probably cannot depend on predictable foreign policies from any president. – YaleGlobal