Even though sentiments are mixed in the US, around the whole world people have reacted enthusiastically about Obama‘s election. People around the world have had more than enough of Bush’ policies and were hoping for a change. Change being the keyword of Obama’s campaign and McCain being associated with Bush, caused the most people to be more favourable towards Barack Obama. The website If the world could vote? shows that all over the globe, more people were rooting for Obama than for McCain.
Obama is young, ‘black’, a Democrat and instills hope, whereas McCain was seen as very similar to Bush, partly due to employing similar tactics to the ones of former Republican campaigns.
One country that seemed significantly pro-McCain on aforementioned If the world could vote? is Macedonia. Why? The Republic of Macedonia borders Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Serbia and Kosovo. Not the easiest region for a country. Greece refuses to recognize ‘Macedonia’ as their name, one of the reasons being a similarly named province in northern Greece, and Macedonia is thus referred to in the UN as The Former Yugoslavic Republic of Macedonia (FYRM). It’s a very complex issue. McCain has been very outspoken about recognizing Macedonia by its constitutional name, whereas Obama has been more careful about it.
Randy Scheunemann, a McCain adviser said the following about NATO membership bids:
On Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, Senator McCain has been strongly outspoken in support for including them. They are ready. In the case of Macedonia, they’ve been a membership action plan for eight or nine cycles.
With respect to the Greek concerns, the United States recognizes Macedonia under its constitutional name.
And he certainly hopes that there’s not going to be this throwback to the 19th century style of Balkan politics, and the Greeks throw a red card on the membership of Macedonia.
Since this is a very big issue in Macedonia, as territorial, cultural and national integrity always are in the Balkans, it’s no wonder people in Macedonia were hoping for McCain to win.
As for Turkey, people might be happy to see a change in government. Bush’ unpopular policies have led to an increase in anti-Americanism around the world. In June, a Pew poll found that out of 47 countries, Turkish people had the least favourable view of the United States (source: The New York Observer). In that sense, Obama will be a welcome change.
It is hoped that the new President will aid Turkish efforts against the PKK and 
the Kurdish insurgency in the Iraqi border area, support the EU’s membership bid and put pressure on European politicians, and support Turkey in its process of becoming a modern, democratic country. It’s not expected that Obama will aid Turkey’s military efforts or put significant pressure on the EU to get them to admit Turkey.
Moreover, just one day before the elections, Obama renewed his commitment to recognize the Armenian genocide, a very sensitive issue in Turkey. McCain “never pledged to label the Armenian killings as genocide and is seen by the U.S. Armenian community as a politician against or indifferent to Armenian matters” (Turkish Daily News).
Turkey’s foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said “the formal recognition by the United States of genocide would seriously damage U.S.-Turkish ties and hurt Turkey’s efforts for reconciliation with Armenia” after meeting Phil Gordon last week, a senior foreign policy adviser to Obama.
Turkey is an important ally (NATO member) and trade partner to both the US and EU, as it has a stabilizing presence in the Middle East, often mediating in Arabic-Israeli talks.
Looks like Obama will have a lot on his hands when he takes office in January.
Increase your understanding! Here’s some useful links:
- Obama renews commitment to ‘Armenian genocide’ recognition (Turkish Daily News – 3 Nov 2008)
- McCain, Obama and Clinton on Macedonia (The Macedonian Tendency – 9 Jun 2008)
- Obama victory sparks cheers around the globe (Cleveland.com – 5 Nov 2008)
- Turkey Ponders Obama As Cure for Anti-Americanism (The New York Observer – 1 Jan 2008)
- If The World Could Vote? Results
- The next US President and Turkey (Turkish Daily News – 10 May 2008)
- The Armenian Genocide (Wikipedia)
- Turkish-Kurdish Conflict (Wikipedia)
- Macedonia Naming Dispute (Wikipedia)
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Comments
13 responses to “Obama Elected, The World Rejoices – Turkey, Macedonia Perhaps Not So Much”
Interesting article. It is still rather early yet for the country perhaps but very soon, Turkey and the Turkish people are going to begin to think about not only their own narrow interests as a nation but how they fit in as world player. It is perfectly natural for Turkey to base every decision and every opinion on its own interests, most countries do this, but citizens of mature liberal democracies are also obliged to see a larger picture as well. Thanks for the article.
Interesting about Macedonia. Fascinating how foreign countries often have only one or two issues that relate to the US. I would think most of the Muslim world is pleased about Obama’s victory. But if he agrees to name the Armenian genocide, genocide, that would be huge!
I am delighted to learn his historic victory. And I do think his term will foresee the warming of relations with the countries that run high in anti-Americanism. He made history. While his predecessor is probably the most notorious in the history of US presidency, Obama is probably the most popular one in recent US history.
The most popular? He’s not even a president yet. Bush started out as quite popular also.
Not this extremely popular though. I think people’s expectations of Obama are too high. He’s not a miracle worker and he’ll end up disappointing a lot of people. I learned in my course for political campaigning that the ones that use the ‘hope’ / inspiration message usually have the most trouble getting re-elected for their second term.
I’m very skeptical about Obama, but at least he’s no maniac.
This is fascinating to learn…see, my husband was born and raised in Macedonia and was 110% behind Obama…apparently he didn’t get ‘the memo’ 😉
Bella
This article was very enlightening and informative.
I had no idea about these issues, and it will be interesting to be aware and to see what decisions will be made regarding these regions under the Obama administration.
Great post!
Interesting and well written article. What is being missed here is the common factor of election based promises that are forgotten once elected. Forget what policies were made leading up to the election it is a new ball game now Obama has control. Let’s see how many promises he or should I say has advisors keep. Incidently the ‘advisors’ are probably the same people who pull the string on Bush.
🙄 It’s very interesting to me that Obama’s popularity around the world has caused people to rejoice at his election. Since anti-American sentiment around the world is at an all time high, should that not give Americans pause when they realize that Obama’s anti-American-freedom policies has earned all this praise? I hope so.
@Laura:
What exactly is anti-American about Obama’s policies?
I think Bush has been very anti-American. You use the word ‘freedom’ right there. The biggest impact Bush has had on the US during his presidency is what he did with creating Homeland Security and the Patriot Act. Those two things have truly been anti-American. The American people should have gotten on the streets about this (as this is your constitutional right) yet you did nothing.
Now Obama, didn’t do anything yet, so let’s see how he will be. I’m highly skeptical of him, since the 3 guys I thought would be fit for ethical presidency didn’t get nominated. However, I believe Obama’s presidency will be less “anti-American” as Bush’ presidency.
I am not so happy about Obama getting in as the next president.
I voted for McCain, mainly because he doesn’t have any plans to ban guns in America and that’s of interest to me since I own a gun business and am an avid hunter.
But I do wish America would get out of the middle-east and stop its Nazi Germany style of dictating what it thinks is right and wrong in the world.
My wish is for the USA to pull out of the middle-east, close up our borders (mainly between Mexico and the U.S.) and start fixing what is wrong with America such as welfare, immigration, unemployment, the healthcare system, corrupt politics and crime.
Could also stop supporting Israel to get the terrorists off our backs. I mean we have already armed them to the teeth including providing them with a nuclear arsenal so they can defend themselves just fine without our support.
Turkey is already “moden, democratic”. Who the hell wrote this article?
Even your government claims to be working towards becoming a “modern, democratic” country.
Also see: http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/10956685.asp?scr=1