Obama made history, but don't expect change overnight, writes Amr Hamzawi* The victory of Barack Obama, coming complete with a Democratic majority in both houses of the US Congress, heralds true change in America, unparalleled perhaps since the Republicans took control of both the executive and legislative branches under Reagan. Now Obama and the Democrats have the mandate they need to restructure political life and bring about long- awaited change. A dream of change is flourishing after the failures of the Bush administration, both external and internal. A turbulent economic crisis dashed the last hopes of John McCain and gave the US its first African American president ever. Once again, America has proved itself to be a country with great vitality and profound liberal convictions. America has turned direction and staged a coup against the policies of the far right, the policies that brought it nothing but trouble at home and abroad. The American people have decided that they had enough of the neocons, the religious far right, and the advocates of international unilateralism. The American people have put an African American in office and gave him the public mandate he needed. The Americans have taken a big step towards racial reconciliation. Having a black president wouldn't fix things overnight, but it opens the door wide to a new social contract, to an era in which minorities would have hope too. This is the greatest thing about Obama's victory. America has rediscovered its liberal roots and ditched the paranoia that Bush and his entourage used to stay in office. America has voted for an African American with a Muslim father. As Arabs, this is food for thought. Let's contemplate the significance of Obama's victory. Let's admit that the Americans were brave enough to embrace change and make use of democracy at a critical moment in their history. Our Arab societies are still having trouble with minorities. Worse still, the majority is having trouble getting its voice heard. What happened in America was a milestone that will register across borders. Even Europe couldn't have pulled off such a turnaround. A non-white or a non- Christian cannot possibly be allowed to take power in Britain, France or Germany. The painful experiences of many Americans during the two Bush administrations have propelled the course of change. And Americans rose to the occasion, electing the most likely person to initiate a new social contract and make whites and minorities feel equal. As Arabs and, therefore, citizens of autocratic countries, we can but gaze with wonder at the vitality of democracy in action. America is back, with over 60 per cent of its eligible voters turning out at the polls -- perhaps 70 per cent. Most of those are young people and voters who had stayed away for years, having lost hope in change. The high turnout is in itself a sign that a nation is about to leave behind the Bush era with all its paranoid policies and military adventures. The Obama team is ready for the problems facing the Americans -- the economic crisis, social security, healthcare and illegal immigration. The new administration is going to revive liberalism, enhance checks and balances, and put some sense into the political system. True, Obama will remain the candidate of the ruling institution, with support coming from major corporations and the media. But the fact that both corporate America and the mighty media machine endorsed Obama means that the dream of change is likely to materialise. With his charismatic energy, his well-balanced team, and a credible mandate, Obama is free to explore the boundaries of the possible. Internationally, things are going to be different too. Some people think that a multi-polar world is going to emerge. Some people hoped that the helm of leadership would change hands. But you cannot count America out. The US economy still produces nearly half the world's GDP. Even with Bush's military adventures, his unjustified wars, and his utter diplomatic ineptitude, the economy held out till the past two years. The Bush years tarnished America's image with friend and foe. Today the world expects Washington to be more open to the major powers and more willing to engage in multilateral leadership. The world expects a consensual approach to the financial crisis, environmental challenges and various regional conflicts. Throughout his protracted election campaign, Obama may not have been able to develop a clear-cut answer to these problems. Sometimes he even used terms borrowed from Bush's lexicon. But the fact that Obama has surrounded himself with realists is a good sign. The new administration is likely to steer closer towards diplomacy and away from needless confrontation. Around the world, many wanted Obama to win. But now that he is about to take office, perhaps Obama's fans abroad should tone down their expectations, for nothing can be changed overnight. The new administration will need time to put US foreign policy on the right track. In the Arab world, we cannot expect much at all. The first priority for the new administration would be US deployment in Iraq and plans for future withdrawal. Iran and Israel's security come right after that. As for the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict, it will perhaps take the Obama administration a year or two to address them. Obama's election is going to change the US image in the Arab world and give the superpower back some of the credibility Bush ruined. But you cannot expect drastic changes to happen overnight. Obama's victory is a wonderful thing for America. For us, it's more of a consolation. * The writer is senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
