Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president, once said that a functional democracy requires leadership by those with the greatest ability who were chosen by the people. Since that time, America has steadfastly followed these principles, with varied outcomes. Ideally, every other four years, Americans expect their chosen leaders to possess a robust vision for the country, an ability to make bold decisions, good judgment, the aptitude for resolving catastrophes, and the capacity to manage relations with foreign nations. This year’s elections will again test the merits of these values after President Trump’s four years in office.
This brief comment highlights the importance of the 2020 elections to the international community. More importantly, it examines how the presidential electoral outcome will affect America’s external image. To say this is to imply that every election and its outcome sends mixed signals and images to the international community. There is the Republican image, and the Democratic image. The former is associated with strong neoliberalist policies of competition and support for big business. To many, Republicans represent the ‘near’ or far-right ideology. The Democratic Party, however, remains pro-welfare state and is considered far or near left in ideology, depending on where one sits or stands. Therefore, America’s image overseas is first determined by the party holding the presidency, and second, by the president’s persona.
"...the temperament of the elected president influences how the party’s ideology is projected, either by persuasion or duress, to the international community."
I focus on the latter to suggest that the temperament of the elected president influences how the party’s ideology is projected, either by persuasion or duress, to the international community. This individual level of analysis resonates with Aristotle’s remarks, that something so minute as a fight between two lovers can ignite war between nation-states. It is also an important lens with which to assess the aftermath of this year’s election, given the rise of populism uniquely linked to the current president’s style and approach to leadership.
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Why does the external image of a country matter, and why should it be linked to the presidential election? Foremost, and specifically for the United States, is the question of global power. Since the collapse of the Soviet Communist empire in 1989, the United States has remained the international leader. That leadership carries with it a collective responsibility of a “father figure” who leads by example, with a superior military-industrial complex, strong economy, adherence to democratic practices, political stability, innovation and influence. These attributes can be split into what political scientist Joseph Nye calls “hard power” and “soft power.” The former suggests the possession of, use of, or showcase of military power. This is not for hegemonic purposes (i.e., self-interest goals) but for collective good such as intervention in the Syrian War to save lives or to keep peace. The latter (‘soft power’ or ‘normative power’) includes the use of its economic largesse, democratic ideals and technological innovation to spur growth and influence international followership either by practice or in policies. In this, the United States has been successful, albeit in degrees. But recent global dynamics pose greater challenges to the United States with regard to its ability to exert positive images abroad.
The first is the rise of China as a global competitor. As the world’s second biggest economy, China’s material capabilities present a major challenge to the United State’s leadership since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Beijing’s use of "soft power" strategies is increasingly reaping her global influence, and to Western pundits, this could dislodge the United States' global leadership position. Whoever occupies the White House on January 21, 2021 will shape how the world views the United States versus China. Will Washington remain the father figure or will Beijing displace the White House from that role?
The second reason why image matters is how a global power such as the United States plays the role of ‘politics of belonging.’ Through its leadership role, the United States is expected to champion problem-solving for issues affecting the global collective good. Examples include global climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the control of other diseases, conflicts, terrorism, nuclear proliferation and poverty reduction. Undoubtedly, the U.S has historically led the world in addressing most of these issues. Today, there are doubts about its role, given the Trump administration’s pandemic response, as well as its 2017 withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on global climate change. Another example is the administration’s declaration to remove U.S. support from the World Health Organization (WHO) amid the global pandemic. The administration has also taken steps targeting foreign students, such as its July directive to strip foreign students of their visas if they were not enrolled in face-to-face classes during the fall 2020 semester. Those actions sent a message to the rest of the world that the United States may no longer welcome foreign students.
"Whether or not these international perceptions are important to the American electorate as they go to the polls in November, my own experience living abroad in my country of origin (among others) suggests that foreign views of the U.S. center on the presidency."
Perhaps even more important is how favorable perceptions by foreign countries benefit the United States. International economic and commercial relations attract investments in and trade with U.S. companies. Positive perceptions also promote tourism into the United States, which generates revenue and jobs. Finally, Americans are probably more secure from foreign threats when international perceptions of the U.S. are more favorable.
Whether or not these international perceptions are important to the American electorate as they go to the polls in November, my own experience living abroad in my country of origin (among others) suggests that foreign views of the U.S. center on the presidency. Whoever is elected to the White House this year will shape America’s economic expansionism, its maintenance of global power and leadership, the security of its people and installations worldwide, and the diffusion of its policies and ideals preferably through the use of "soft power."
About the Author
Simon Okoth, Ph.D., is an instructor and director of internships in the VCU Department of Political Science. He teaches public administration, international political economy (honors), Middle East politics and black political thought.
Okoth previously served as director of graduate studies at VCU’s Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs where he also taught public policy analysis to graduate students.
Upon completing his doctorate in public policy and administration at VCU in 2009, Okoth taught courses in the M.P.A. program before moving to the American University of Afghanistan–Kabul as an assistant professor, King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, and later at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates where he taught and served as coordinator of the Executive Masters in Public Administration program.
Read more about Okoth’s experiences in Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan and the U.S.