Obama to Promote International Law and Diplomacy
Future American President has Progressive World View
Nov 6, 2008
Barack Obama won the US presidential election on a campaign of domestic change and a promise of reversing the foreign policy direction of the current administration. With a global financial meltdown, two wars, and a divided international community; the world appears ready to welcome the new leader and work with him.
Barack Obama has indicated in his previous foreign policy declarations that he will approach the international community with an attitude of cooperation and a preference for diplomacy over military action. Most observers consider this approach to be a complete reversal from the foreign policy principles of President Bush. He has also promised to embrace the rule of international law; a move that many jurists think will help heal the current rifts between the international community and the United States.
International Law
During this presidential election cycle, in an interview given to the American Society of International Law, Barack Obama articulated his general view on the role of international law in foreign policy and contrasted it with the general view of President Bush. He stated that: “Promoting strong international norms helps us advance many interests, including non-proliferation, free and fair trade, a clean environment, and protecting our troops in wartime. Respect for international legal norms also plays a vital role in fighting terrorism. Because the [Bush] administration cast aside international norms that reflect American values, such as the Geneva Conventions, we are less able to promote those values abroad”. Many jurists and political analysts have welcomed the prospect of infusing this world view into the White House.
Observers agree that Barack Obama and Joe Biden may also reopen the doors for American support and acceptance of the International Criminal Court. Barack Obama in the past has stated about the ICC that: “The Court has pursued charges only in cases of the most serious and systematic crimes and it is in America’s interests that these most heinous of criminals, like the perpetrators of the genocide in Darfur, are held accountable. These actions are a credit to the cause of justice and deserve full American support and cooperation”. Advocates for American ratification of The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court have expressed confidence in the possibility that this ratification could happen during the next four years.
Humanitarian Intervention
Barack Obama has also articulated his support for humanitarian intervention. He stated during one of the Presidential Debates that the United States: “may not always have national security issues at stake, but [may have] moral issues at stake…So when genocide is happening, when ethnic cleansing is happening somewhere around the world and we stand idly by, that diminishes us. And so I do believe that we have to consider it as part of our interests, our national interests, in intervening where possible”. Analysts are still not sure what shape such intervention would take and in what fundamental ways it would differ from past interventions. However, many humanitarian and advocacy groups have seen it as a positive perspective.
Global Reaction
Jurists and analysts are confident that Barack Obama will fundamentally change how the United States interacts with the world. It has also become evident that the world welcomes this change. The media, observers and world leaders have all expressed their delight in seeing an Obama administration govern the United States. Christiane Amanpour, CNN Chief International Correspondent, summarized the international response to his election victory by stating that: “It is no enviable task, but America's next president starts with a world of best wishes”.
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