Obama Nobel Prize for Multilateralism
posted by: Marc Seltzer 57 days ago
President Obama's winning of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize recognizes his multilateral emphasis in resolving international conflicts. Critics, who wonder what he has done, are overlooking the importance of this cooperative approach to the rest of the world.
During the first decade of the 21st Century, President Bush rattled Europe with his willingness to take unilateral action and use force to achieve America's international goals. The U.S. is more willing to go this route in part becauses it has not been scarred by international wars on its home soil. The attacks on Pearl Harbor, New York and Washington D.C. were painful, but Europe lost far more than fifty million lives, many of them civilians, during World War II.
President Obama struck a chord with the Nobel committee and people of all nations when he spoke of working in cooperation with the international community. With the benefit of hindsight, President Obama recognizes that problems such as Middle-East conflicts and totalitarian regimes are not so easily fixable by the United States, despite great diplomatic and military power.
It is worth noting that many European nations were still monarchies in the 20th century. Even as those monarchies were replaced by democracies, Europe plunged into two destructive wars and needed help from the United States to free itself, first of Nazi aggression, and then of Soviet oppression.
In many ways immitating the U.S. and Canadian models, European nations have now solidly pursued a democratic vision and free markets, trade and immigration among member states. These policies have led to prosperity, stability and increased international leadership.
Since the Second World War, Europe gradually built a stable community of nations using organizations such as European Union and NATO and determined, constructive, diplomatic efforts. European nations have used negotiation to form a union.
The current U.S. concerns over nuclear proliferation, totalitarian regimes, and violent extreamists may or may not resolve through diplomatic efforts. But President Obama's multilateral approach is the best option for peaceful resolution of conflicts. Finding common ground with China, Russia and the European Community can bring tremendous power to our efforts to diffuse dangers abroad. There is no magic wand that guarantees peaceful solutions, but the President is both realistic and savvy about how to ally the greatest force against enemies of democracy and peace.
In this light, the Nobel prize is a high honor for Barack Obama, a recogotion of a new attitude in U.S. foreign policy, and a confirmation that there is great desire in the world for 21st century international cooperation.
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More Care2.com coverage: President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
More of my comments on President Obama: President Obama Straddling Progressive and Moderate Positions; President Obama Reaches Out to the Muslim World
During the first decade of the 21st Century, President Bush rattled Europe with his willingness to take unilateral action and use force to achieve America's international goals. The U.S. is more willing to go this route in part becauses it has not been scarred by international wars on its home soil. The attacks on Pearl Harbor, New York and Washington D.C. were painful, but Europe lost far more than fifty million lives, many of them civilians, during World War II.
President Obama struck a chord with the Nobel committee and people of all nations when he spoke of working in cooperation with the international community. With the benefit of hindsight, President Obama recognizes that problems such as Middle-East conflicts and totalitarian regimes are not so easily fixable by the United States, despite great diplomatic and military power.
It is worth noting that many European nations were still monarchies in the 20th century. Even as those monarchies were replaced by democracies, Europe plunged into two destructive wars and needed help from the United States to free itself, first of Nazi aggression, and then of Soviet oppression.
In many ways immitating the U.S. and Canadian models, European nations have now solidly pursued a democratic vision and free markets, trade and immigration among member states. These policies have led to prosperity, stability and increased international leadership.
Since the Second World War, Europe gradually built a stable community of nations using organizations such as European Union and NATO and determined, constructive, diplomatic efforts. European nations have used negotiation to form a union.
The current U.S. concerns over nuclear proliferation, totalitarian regimes, and violent extreamists may or may not resolve through diplomatic efforts. But President Obama's multilateral approach is the best option for peaceful resolution of conflicts. Finding common ground with China, Russia and the European Community can bring tremendous power to our efforts to diffuse dangers abroad. There is no magic wand that guarantees peaceful solutions, but the President is both realistic and savvy about how to ally the greatest force against enemies of democracy and peace.
In this light, the Nobel prize is a high honor for Barack Obama, a recogotion of a new attitude in U.S. foreign policy, and a confirmation that there is great desire in the world for 21st century international cooperation.
Follow my writing on Twitter.
More Care2.com coverage: President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
More of my comments on President Obama: President Obama Straddling Progressive and Moderate Positions; President Obama Reaches Out to the Muslim World
Read more: politics, president obama, nobel prize
comments
Cindy,
It's not hatred. I have U.S. friends. I am simply trying to point out the colossal task facing President Obama in repairing your sadly tarnished worldwide image as well as domestic inadequacies. He needs every assistance that you can give, yet he is being constantly attacked by ignorant bigotry. Please wake up!
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Hopefully the students of the teachers you managed understand that when a monarchy becomes a democracy, its monarchs are merely figureheads or advisers to the elected officials. Maybe even permanent members of the legislative body.
But it ceases to be a monarchy. It's a democracy, or more precisely a republican form of government. Really. Ask any of the students who may have attended the schools you administered.
Meanwhile, anyone who continually insults my country and its citizens will not be treated kindly nor with respect. And I'd add: however lacking our educational system, I can only hope it's superior to the one that "educated" you.
I am now finished with reponding to your USA-hate.
-cindy
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Cindy, that had been an interesting discussion until you spoilt it by becoming aggressive (a national failing) and thereby ruined your cause.
There are many constitutional monarchies around the world that are also democracies where the people are very well represented in government and also many republics that are governed despotically and crazily. It is impossible to generalise.
Some friends of mine recently visited Cuba and were very impressed by how happy they found the people.
Having spent many years as principal of a school where we taught many nationalities, I would suggest that U.S.A. education needs to be greatly improved for I found the great majority of those pupils and their parents to be very myopic and ill-informed. Your latest response would seem to support that. Very disappointing. President Obama has plenty to rectify in that direction too.
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"Can they? The results of Bush's corruption are still stinking around the world, an immense problem for Obama."
Note: in a democracy (this case USA) Bush is gone, and the people elect a man who is the antithesis of Bush, and a truly great man ... we hope. (If not, we replace him.) This is the best possible form of government.
Next note: in a vastly more-corrupting and permanent monarchy, dictatorship, etc, etc. the citizens are merely subjects, or pauns of the dictator. These are absolutely the worst forms of government. (Unless you're king or dictator.)
Final note: this is not an interesting discussion; it's stupid because by my measure, you are a fool. But an old fool, thankfully ... and thus harmless.
-cindy
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Cindy,
Can they? The results of Bush's corruption are still stinking around the world, an immense problem for Obama.
More than two thousand years ago Pericles, prompted by young Alcibiades, went to war with colonies of Athens in order to distract attention from his misgovernment at home. Since then, through the ages, it has been a regular ploy of incompetent politicians, causing the slaughter in Vietnam, Somalia, Falklands, Serbia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc., etc.
Later the Roman rulers introduced "circuses", gladiatorial contests, chariot races, throwing dissidents to the lions, to keep the brainless masses happy while they feathered their nests. Today cheap cinema, T.V., pop, sport, scandal and sex perform the same job.
Politicians are always promising to improve education, but they do nothing; a well-educated, intelligent populace would quickly spot their rulers' devious devices and inadequacies.
Hitler advised his lackeys, "When you tell a lie make it a big one; the ignorant mass will more easily believe it." Bush is by no means the only leader to have followed that advice.
The U.S.A. is not the only "democracy" to have suffered severely from corrupt politicians, but a long series of moronic megalomaniac powergrabbers has left President Obama with a load of filth to clean up.
Democracy? Do something about it? Codswallop! Look at all the opposition he is encountering. It still reeks to high heaven.
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Corruption is not unique to any form of government. However, in a democracy, the people can do something about it.
So if I need to look back to find it in the USA, I take that as good news. Certainly corruption does not police itself out of existence.
BTW, check your facts. Tito most certainly endorsed the commmunists during the your (Greece's) civil war. May I ask what side you were on, given your suspicions regarding democracies?
-cindy
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Cindy, what fun we're having!
Unfortunately democracy as practised in many lands, the U.S.A. amongst them, is very prone to corruption. You have only to look back to your recent past and see how presidents have abused the system, led an unthinking populace by the nose. The great majority of the governed anywhere are kep in abysmal ignorance, are easily hoodwinked into stupid decisions by unscrupulous politicians. In some if not many lands a benevolent autocracy with the leaders chosen by accomplishment and ability rather than by a random ill-informed election would be preferable. Above all the American system whereby your leaders are able to stand for election solely by the amount of money they can amass, is fundamentally flawed. That was outlawed in many democracies a long time ago. Your politicians are all held in thrall by their Big Business contributors. JFK tried to be independent - look where that got him! I hope that Obama is wearing bullet-proof underwear; he is too reforming for his own good.
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oh good gawd...people who are wondering about why obama won the nobel peace prize need to read the nobel committee's of reasons for doing so. that's right, obama-haters...you'll have to read. i know it's painful. but just give it a try, you might enjoy thinking for yourself and drawing your own conclusions. nobelprize.org.
mr president - your response to winning the prize was amazing. thank you.
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"Democracy is not an appropriate form of government for all nations."
Wow! OK; if you believe that some people are so incapable of self governance that they require a theistic or dictatorial leader, we really aren't going to find much we agree on.
I believe greatness is found in the mythical Cincinnatus, the brilliant Cicero and the American Founding Fathers. (and others like them).
I believe the greatest documents ever written are the US Constitution, the British Magna Carta and all laws subject to the consent of the governed -- not the Bible, Koran nor Talmud and certainly not the Communist Manifesto.
I hope I'm being clear.
-cindy
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Cindy,
Democracy is not an appropriate form of government for all nations. Iraq throughout its short history needed autocratic government. When Britain held the mandate order was kept by the R.A.F. with its armoured cars and aircraft. Anywhere that stepped out of line received a shower of leaflets to be followed the next day by bombs and bullets if they had not mended their ways. A succession of despots next had the reins. Sadaam, initially supported by the U.S.A, was necessary and the country is actually worse off without him. It has been destabilised, its government is ineffective and no less corrupt.
Tito was not a puppet of Stalin and did a great job of bringing Yugoslavia back to unity and prosperity after WWII. It was Albania rather than Yugoslavia who supported the Greek Communists in the civil war. Incidentally there is still a strong Communist party here, one of the few remaining in Europe. Communism as usually practised has the seeds of its own destruction within it, but it may well be relevant for some time yet in China. Capitalism too is a destructive force, as recently demonstrated, and will eventually fall.
I daily give thanks for the resurgence of Russia and the rise of China as checks to the U.S.A.'s aggressive wildcat military adventures around the world, although the sanity at last promised by Obama gives cause for hope. Unfortunately, though, all U.S. policians are controlled to some extent by Manhattan. Let's see how free he is.
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