As I prepare to depart for my Independence Day holiday, I’ve been giving some thought to what I could post that would be appropriate for the holiday, something celebrating democracy and liberty. The U.S. has contributed much to the world, far more than can be listed in this space, but perhaps it is those ideals of democracy and liberty that most inspire people all over the world. As you know, under President Bush, the U.S. has been promoting a Freedom Agenda that seeks to spread democracy, and the press and commentators have declared the effort both doomed and enduring. However, it wasn't Bush's Freedom Agenda that most recently inspired people all over the world to take notice of American democracy, it was our presidential primary season, which attracted unprecedented international interest. Now that the primaries are over and the candidates have turned to the general election they are seeking to tap into that international interest with a travel schedule that burnishes their international credentials (Christian Science Monitor – Obama, McCain campaigns go global):
As never before, the two main candidates have carved out international itineraries that are taking them to major world capitals and hot spots , a diversion from the usual hopscotch campaign map that tends to favor the swing regions of, say, Ohio and Florida. […] America's image abroad has taken a major hit during the Bush presidency, with an unpopular US-led war in Iraq and positions on global warming at odds with much of the developed world. Both candidates seem eager to repair that.
Perhaps exporting our election could well prove to be a boon for public diplomacy, which has been defined as an effort to “promote the national interest of the United States through understanding, informing and influencing foreign audiences.” Far more than advertising campaigns (which defined much of the early Bush efforts at public diplomacy) our presidential candidates may be the perfect ambassadors for American democracy, as they inspire excitement and a sense of hope and optimism for the future. Happy 4th of July!
