Obama's candidacy can be “revolution”
02/07/2008The United States is, probably, the most important country in the world to impacts that can be generated from each action or measure taken by its rulers. In this sense, US elections are carefully monitored by everyone hoping to anticipate important movements and that could impact other countries.
With Brazil could not be different, especially to the extent that we have in the United States one of the most important trading partners, besides living in an eternal effort towards and away toward the US - which can also be translated in terms of the search for greater autonomy and freedom of action in South America or search terms for preferred relationships.
Thus, it is always interesting to see what has happened in the US elections, particularly given that there is a set of expectations that guide the behavior of politicians and Brazilian businessmen. It is precisely at this moment that caricatures and myths can lead to incorrect interpretations of what is happening and what should happen to the US in the next government.
Recently, President Lula declared that “Monteiro Lobato wrote that one day there would be a dispute between a woman and a black candidate in the United States. It's what's happening to Barack Obama. I think it's a revolution in the American electorate head. If Obama wins will show great evolution. That's the big news of the latter 100 year history”.
This statement of President Lula shows an idea that is relatively consolidated in Brazil: that a Democratic administration would be better than a Republican government. Like this, it's easier to see Obama (and until recently, Hilary Clinton) as a president who will be better than McCain. The statement conceals more than a compliment to the development of an electoral perspective that allows access to non-traditional figures.
In fact it hides a perception that these non-traditional candidates are more representative of the true “people” and would show the will to change on the part of the electorate. We can not forget that the president Lula has the same conditions as now praises the US: It is also a non-traditional candidate and express the true popular will.
On the other hand, for those who really want to keep up with what's happening in American politics, It must go beyond initial appearances and focus more on the acts actually carried out in the political logic. Like this, it is important to overcome the gender and racial characteristics in order to understand which are the main guidelines to be followed by candidates.
Specifically for the case Obama, recentemente ele contatou Jason Furman para ser seu Diretor de Política Econômica. Furman trabalhou diretamente com Robert Rubin, US Secretary of the Treasury during the Clinton government, and is known on Wall Street. Thereby, the indication is that is that even with all the criticism of Obama to the Free Trade Agreement of North America (NAFTA) and all the support that has declared the workers at the expense of entrepreneurs, now its concrete action is indicating another path.
The left part of the Democratic Party has shown very uncomfortable with this Obama's decision and has expressed it publicly. To a large extent this is because, In the USA, They have realized that Obama is shifting part of their promises and positions, Now it's time to realize that in Brazil also. In the world of politics, do not be deceived by false perceptions or cartoons is more than a cunning signal, It is a basic condition for being a good ruler.
*Rodrigo Cintra is a professor at ESPM and Director of Focus R. I. - Advisory and Consulting in International Relations
Originally published in Business Season
http://epocanegocios.globo.com/Revista/Epocanegocios/1,,EDG84005-8373,00.html