21/04: Where Would You Go?
Category: America and the World
Posted by: Martian Mariner
I'm going to begin my participation in this fine blog with a question. I know I got the idea from somewhere else, and I'm really hoping it wasn't here...
The new President, whoever he/she is, will have many opportunities in the first months of office to set the precedent for his/her tenure. One of the most important of these, at least symbolically, will be the selection of the country for the first international visit as head of state. So...
Where would you go?
I'll start.
I'd head to India. It's the world's largest democracy and has the second largest Muslim population of any country. It's one of a handful of countries poised to join the ranks of the top-tier economies (along with Brazil, China, and Russia.) Due in part to a lack of domestic natural resources (as well as being somewhat shut out regionally by China), it's become a global leader in alternative energy, primarily wind power. A visit by a newly-elected President to India would show the world that the U.S. is willing to adapt to the changing global power structure, but that the U.S. will have a very decisive say in the direction of that change. A visit to a democracy, even one that struggles at times, would show that the U.S. is not ethno- or Euro-centric, but IS opposed to political oppression (read: China.)
I had considered France, to shore up what should be a strong alliance, or to Canada, to throw a bone to our number one trade partner. But I decided that these were too "global North", and that a Presidential visit in 2009 should reflect the direction of the 21st century, which seems to be heading toward the rapidly growing (in numbers, economy, and power) global South.
What do you think?
The new President, whoever he/she is, will have many opportunities in the first months of office to set the precedent for his/her tenure. One of the most important of these, at least symbolically, will be the selection of the country for the first international visit as head of state. So...
Where would you go?
I'll start.
I'd head to India. It's the world's largest democracy and has the second largest Muslim population of any country. It's one of a handful of countries poised to join the ranks of the top-tier economies (along with Brazil, China, and Russia.) Due in part to a lack of domestic natural resources (as well as being somewhat shut out regionally by China), it's become a global leader in alternative energy, primarily wind power. A visit by a newly-elected President to India would show the world that the U.S. is willing to adapt to the changing global power structure, but that the U.S. will have a very decisive say in the direction of that change. A visit to a democracy, even one that struggles at times, would show that the U.S. is not ethno- or Euro-centric, but IS opposed to political oppression (read: China.)
I had considered France, to shore up what should be a strong alliance, or to Canada, to throw a bone to our number one trade partner. But I decided that these were too "global North", and that a Presidential visit in 2009 should reflect the direction of the 21st century, which seems to be heading toward the rapidly growing (in numbers, economy, and power) global South.
What do you think?
A Student wrote:
OK so here goes: I like Mariner's idea of visiting India, and I too would choose a democracy, but I think I'd pick a different one: Turkey.
Like it or not, the Middle East will continue to remain a crucial region in terms of political and economic consequences into the foreseeable future. Additionally, it's been the site of some of the most cynical, counterproductive and spectacularly unsuccessful foreign policy in US history. As such, making the first state visit to an emerging democracy would make a strong statement about the American commitment to the development of democracy around the world. Additionally, Turkey's geopolitical importance as a link between Europe and the Middle East mean that it will remain an essential partner in the achievement of US foreign policy goals in the next century.
With all its warts, its problems and its idiosyncrasies, Turkey is the poster child of a democratic work in progress This is another reason why I think it stands out as an important nation for the future. The way that "the West" deals with the various questions surrounding Turkey (EU membership, continued NATO involvement, the Kurdish question) will be an important indicator of the way that we choose to engage (or, alternatively, to manipulate or to ignore) "the Rest", the nations which may be groping towards liberalization. If we can develop effective policy solutions for the issues surrounding our relations with this critical ally, it will have a positive impact on many other nations which are even now weighing the relative merits of joining the international order as active, engaged members.
Finally, although Turkey certainly has had its problems with social integration, there are few countries which represent the possible bridging of the East/West divide the way that Turkey might.
Plus, s/he could have his/her picture taken in front of the Hagia Sophia.