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Comparing the forty-forth president of the United States of America, Barack Obama, to the twenty-third president of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, it should be noted that the historical background, economical systems and the foreign policy of the two countries differ much. It is possible only to compare or contrast the gentlemen’s ways to the presidency, their views concerning governing the economy, the democratic idea and the politics of collective identity and their ethos.
The world community was surprised at the fact that Barack Obama was elected a president of the US in 2008. “Obama self-identifies as, and is understood to be, African American in a society that has persistently discriminated against blacks” (Kesselman 339). The white population was not expected to support this candidate, but the democratic values won and Barack is the first Afro-American president of the USA. Sarkozy has got mixed national and ethnic origin as well, his father was a Hungarian aristocrat, though the question was not so significant as in the case of his American colleague, Nicolas is the first French president with immigrant background.
Being a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama is an educated and intelligent man; his personal and professional qualities come up to the expectations of the American people. The election of Nicolas Sarkozy as a president of the French Republic created a sensation as well. “2007 did indeed mark a turning point in French presidential election campaigns, with exaggerated importance placed on public opinion, its measurement, and also its publication in the candidate selection process” (Carballo 141). He received the master degrees in Private and Business Law, so the two presidents are educated in the similar spheres.
Nicolas was expected to solve the problems of ailing economy, unregistered immigration, unemployment and crime, but the French people were very soon disillusioned about his activity. Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy are the prominent politicians, whose pre-election slogans were oriented on the well-being of the majority of the population and the recovery of the states after the economical crisis.
At the period when Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy were elected both countries needed revitalizing reforms in the sphere of economy. From the very beginning of his political career Obama positioned himself as a reformer, he was aimed at changing not some separate elements, but rather the people’s attitude and the direction of movement. “Obama’s efforts to refocus political debate on bread-and-butter issues is likely to appeal at many centrist voters who are tired of narrow political appeals to a small base of voters and who don’t consider morality issues a top concern” (Dupuis 113). Barack Obama is a commoner and remembers the problems of common people.
His pre-election speeches might seem to be a grass-roots strategy, but his further activity proved his sincere care for the welfare of the common people. “Obama’s belief in preparation and self-discipline served him well in his role as president-elect, when he sometimes worked day and night. He and his advisers prepared a plan to strengthen the economy” (Sirvaitis 94). The idea of raising the bread-and-butter questions not always occurs to the politicians, so far and isolated from the topical problems of the majority of the population they appear to be. Obama is involved in the life of the American people and is in the know of most of their needs and expectations.
Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to be not so much concerned about the problems of the country. One of his first decisions was to give himself a raise so that his salary corresponded to the salaries of his European colleagues. “Between 1977 and 2006, the proportion of the French who judged that politicians are very little or not at all concerned with what ordinary citizens think, increased from 42 to 69 percent” (Kesselman 149).
Nicolas is known for making decisions not taking into consideration even the opinions of his advisors not to mention the public opinion. His ratings fell after his scandalous divorce and the public opinion concerning his personal qualities was spread onto the attitude to his political decisions as well. Having the starting points of their presidential careers of equal worth, Obama and Sarkozy chose different ways for the further economical development of the countries and it predetermined the differences in their public opinion ratings.
Beginning the administration of the presidents coincide with the period of political in the world. The USA were involved into two ground wars abroad and into the war with the terrorism, which started after the events of September 11, 2001. It was a period when the country needed a strong leader and experienced politician. Obama is often criticized for his politics in these wars, but the war law dictates certain rules and the question is too complicated to be so easily and definitely solved.
Nicolas Sarkazy was to make decisions and choose the country course in the same wars. But the situation was not so complicated, while the French president was free to choose the further way of interference or non-interference, and Obama was facing the fact and needed to act in accordance with it. Due to the mixed origin of both of the presidents they worked with the issues concerning the problems which they experienced themselves previously. Obama’s presidency itself is the evidence of democratic freedom in the state compared to the oppressed position of the African Americans in the USA of the past.
He managed to prove that the racial prejudices are senseless while the personal qualities and the professional skills matter much more and the world community is to accept this fact. Nicolas Sarkozy worked with the problem of unregistered immigrants and this question could not but have impact onto his feelings as well. The presidency of Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy proved to be the triumph of collective identity of the minorities and the readiness of the world community to part with some of the narrow-mindedness.
The personal qualities and charm are said to be not less important than education or communicative skills in politics. But at the same time the first positive impression may be easily spoiled by the following actions and circumstances. Barack Obama is known to be a good family man, a father of two pretty girls and a caring husband. Notwithstanding the heights which he reached, the moral values are significant to him and he is on firm ground. His wife Michelle Robinson and his daughters Malia Ann and Sasha remain the first concern for Barack, who is made to take care of millions of American people. He is famous for his love of sports and basketball in particular.
Obama is a Christian, though he was baptized in 1988 when he was already at conscious age. The US president has a pet dog and likes animals. In other words, Barack Obama produces a positive impression and is a worthy example for imitation, as the whole world is watching him and children may even dream of becoming similar to him. Barack is also known to be a good orator and a bright media figure. In 2008 he was named the person of the year by the Times magazine and in 2009 he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for enhancing the international diplomacy and cooperation between the countries.
Thus, Barack Obama seems to be a trustworthy person. Nicolas Sarkozy’s personal charm can hardly be denied, he is a brilliant orator as well. But the impression which this political leader produces is rather negative. His personal and family life was made public. The French people were astonished at the photographs of the president walking with a young singer a month later after his divorce with his second wife. On one hand, nobody should interfere into the personal affairs, but at the same time it was not an only occasion when the personal qualities of Nicolas were doubted. He is famous for his ill temper and making decisions without consulting the advisors and canceling them only few days later.
It is very sad when the personal lacks of a person reflect on the destinies of the whole country. Though the role of a single personality in the march of history is questionable, the personal qualities of the political leaders matter and should be taken into consideration.
Comparing different views and personalities of Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy, it should be noted that they will be evaluated correctly only years later, when the historians will analyze all the consequences of their activity and their role in the world context.
Bibliography
Carballo, Marita, Hjelmar, Ulf. Public Opinion Polling in a Globalized World. 2008: 300.
Dupuis, Martin, Boeckelman, Keith. Barack Obama, the New Face of American Politics. 2008: 167.
Kesselman, Mark, Krieger, Joel, Joseph, William. Introduction to Comparative Politics: Political Challenges and Changing Agendas. Wadsworth Cengage Learning. 2009: 744.
Sirvaitis, Karen. Barack Obama: A Leader in a Time of Change. Twenty-First Century Books. 2009: 112.
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