№042: United States’ Foreign Policy Under Obama: What Could a Second Term Bring?
№042: United States’ Foreign Policy Under Obama: What Could a Second Term Bring?

Author(s): Bartosz Wiśniewski
Subject(s): Economic policy, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy, Geopolitics
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Barack Obama; presidential elections; USA; elections; foreign policy; North America
Summary/Abstract: Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are locked in a tight race for the White House. If Obama were to emerge triumphant, what would that mean for America’s foreign policy? During the second term, Obama could try to capitalise on the remaining credibility among the foreign audiences, and attempt to pursue an activist, risk-averse strategy internationally. In practice, however, Obama is likely to face serious obstacles to mobilise the international community to support his agenda. Domestic circumstances—the need to focus on averting a short-term fiscal meltdown, and to address long-term challenges to United States’ economic standing and global competitiveness—would also consume a considerable amount of the president’s attention and political capital. An upcoming reshuffling within Obama’s national security team could add momentum to United States’ diplomatic activities, but it will be largely up to the president to decide whether he will seek to secure his legacy in the foreign policy domain.

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