(Image from Al-Hayat, via MEMRI)
The global reaction to Obama’s victory is pouring forth. A long list of translations and English articles follows. You won’t have time to read all the links – but take a look at the headlines and pull-quotes. Alone, they give a flavor of how differently the USA appears to the world than it did this time yesterday.
Rzeczpospolita, Poland
The Same Hegemon – but Different
Le Figaro, France
The World’s Expectations of Obama’s Victory
Volkskrant, The Netherlands
Obama Inherits Mountain of Problems
The new president inherits an economic recession, two wars and a record budget deficit. Only Franklin Delano Roosevelt experienced something similar.
De Telegraaf, Netherlands
Obama’s Monster Triumph
What many Americans until recently had thought impossible, Obama has accomplished. For that reason alone, he will shape the changing face of the United States in the coming years.
L’Express, France
Barack Obama’s Victory Marks Reconciliation of America with the World
“A magnificent example of the vitality of American political life ”
Le Nouvel Observateur, France
A Black Man in the White House
” Between the economic crisis and the turn of events in the U.S., a new era is dawning. We can no longer be satisfied with a half-baked Europe waging half-baked politics with half-baked institutions. The election of Barack Obama has left us facing a stark choice: to take up our proper role, or leave the stage of History. ”
El País, Spain
Before and After
Folha de Sao Paulo, Brazil
We Are All Americans
“That the United States of America provides this ray of hope for the depressed global scene is so much the better. Among the truly awful inheritances handed down from eight years of Bush, perhaps the worst is such acute and unintelligent anti-Americanism. “
Diario Co Latino, El Salvador
“Change” Triumphs in the United States
Libération, France
Barack Obama, or the Incomplete Revolution
“Just when the struggle against racism seems to advance, the struggle for gay and lesbian rights regresses. ”
Liberation, France
Good News from America
Pravda, Russia
Obama Will Take a Time-Out with Russia
Caijing, China
Why Did Obama Win?
L’Orient-Le Jour, Lebanon
Colors of Stars
Mingpao, Hong Kong
Five Challenges for the New President
Yedioth Ahronot , Israel
Arabs Waiting For Obama
Yedioth Ahronot , Israel
Good Morning America
Dar Al-Hayat, Lebanon
Making the World Safer
The Daily Star, Lebanon
Obama’s Election is Just the Beginning of a Long and Uncertain Road
For all his inspiring experiences and masterful oratory, Obama remains a single mortal tasked with some of the most intimidating challenges ever left for someone entering the Oval Office.
Dar Al-Hayat, Lebanon
Will Obama Carry Out Change?
The Arab Times, Kuwait
When Victory Seeds Betrayal
The Arab Times, Kuwait
Hope for Obama
The Arab Times, Kuwait
Obama Urged to ‘Look East’
Al Ahram Weekly, Egypt
Crossing the Line
The Tehran Times, Iran
The World’s Candidate Wins
And after years of the arrogance, intolerance, and unilateralism of the Bush administration, this came as a breath of fresh air.
The Middle East Times, Egypt
A Brave New World
Haaretz Daily, Israel
A Technological Victory
The Jerusalem Post, Israel
Mazal Tov, Obama
Haaretz Daily, Israel
Advice For the Winner
Haaretz Daily, Israel
U.S. Is Example of Democracy At Its Best
It has been a long time since any politician managed to draw such massive crowds. That is good news not only for America and Americans, but also for politics and politicians in every country where people have despaired of them.
The Jordan Times, Jordan
Clear Message
Independent, U.K.
Now the Real Test Begins for Obama
Independent, U.K.
What the World Wants from Its President
Guardian Unlimited, U.K.
McCain: Palin Was More Trouble than a Pitbull
[The pitbull] eventually lets go
(All links from WatchingAmerica.com, the aggregator of foreign news about the USA.)
Robin Koerner is a British-born citizen of the USA, who currently serves as Academic Dean of the John Locke Institute. He holds graduate degrees in both Physics and the Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (U.K.). He is also the founder of WatchingAmerica.com, an organization of over 100 volunteers that translates and posts in English views about the USA from all over the world.
Robin may be best known for having coined the term “Blue Republican” to refer to liberals and independents who joined the GOP to support Ron Paul’s bid for the presidency in 2012 (and, in so doing, launching the largest coalition that existed for that candidate).
Robin’s current work as a trainer and a consultant, and his book If You Can Keep It , focus on overcoming distrust and bridging ideological division to improve politics and lives. His current project, Humilitarian, promotes humility and civility as a basis for improved political discourse and outcomes.