MARTIN Wolf presented an erudite analysis on the Donald Trump phenomenon (Franken Trump, the monster spawned by Republican zeal, March 4). But his important omission was to ignore the profound effect on the American psyche of the decline of the US’s leadership role in world politics during the presidency of Barack Obama.
Americans want strong foreign policy leadership of the kind demonstrated particularly by Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. Mr Trump (pictured), a vapid clown, took the gap in the absence of credible leadership, with great success. His main slogan — Make America Great Again — resonates with millions of Americans who feel the country has abdicated its world role and mission.
Samuel Johnson (1709-84), encapsulating the Trump and Adolf Hitler phenomena, famously said that patriotism was "the last refuge of the scoundrel". Of course, patriotism is not necessarily a dirty word in politics. Margaret Thatcher and Vladimir Putin, for example, were not by any manner or means "scoundrels", but strongly committed and legitimate nationalists, defending the national interests of their countries. Ms Thatcher wanted to make Britain "Great Britain" again, while Mr Putin’s mission is to restore international respect and recognition for Russia after the humiliating collapse of the Soviet Union. Both succeeded brilliantly.
Today, the Kremlin dictates much of the international relations agenda in Europe and the Middle East and Putin’s domestic popularity rating remains high. His gains were the US’s losses. The "Imperial Republic" has foundered on Mr Obama’s watch, his "red lines" are simply ignored, allowing Mr Putin, president of a much weaker state, to dominate, manipulating almost at will the status quo in eastern Europe and the Middle East to Russia’s advantage.
Mr Trump is the last person able to restore US foreign policy leadership. Hillary Clinton will merely perpetuate the status quo, probably presiding over the US’s further decline in world politics. For its own sake and that of the whole world, the US will have to reinvent itself, but the prospects are slim.
Prof Gerrit Olivier
Department of political sciences, University of Pretoria
Donald Trump. Picture: REUTERS
MARTIN Wolf presented an erudite analysis on the Donald Trump phenomenon (Franken Trump, the monster spawned by Republican zeal, March 4). But his important omission was to ignore the profound effect on the American psyche of the decline of the US’s leadership role in world politics during the presidency of Barack Obama.
Americans want strong foreign policy leadership of the kind demonstrated particularly by Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. Mr Trump (pictured), a vapid clown, took the gap in the absence of credible leadership, with great success. His main slogan — Make America Great Again — resonates with millions of Americans who feel the country has abdicated its world role and mission.
Samuel Johnson (1709-84), encapsulating the Trump and Adolf Hitler phenomena, famously said that patriotism was "the last refuge of the scoundrel". Of course, patriotism is not necessarily a dirty word in politics. Margaret Thatcher and Vladimir Putin, for example, were not by any manner or means "scoundrels", but strongly committed and legitimate nationalists, defending the national interests of their countries. Ms Thatcher wanted to make Britain "Great Britain" again, while Mr Putin’s mission is to restore international respect and recognition for Russia after the humiliating collapse of the Soviet Union. Both succeeded brilliantly.
Today, the Kremlin dictates much of the international relations agenda in Europe and the Middle East and Putin’s domestic popularity rating remains high. His gains were the US’s losses. The "Imperial Republic" has foundered on Mr Obama’s watch, his "red lines" are simply ignored, allowing Mr Putin, president of a much weaker state, to dominate, manipulating almost at will the status quo in eastern Europe and the Middle East to Russia’s advantage.
Mr Trump is the last person able to restore US foreign policy leadership. Hillary Clinton will merely perpetuate the status quo, probably presiding over the US’s further decline in world politics. For its own sake and that of the whole world, the US will have to reinvent itself, but the prospects are slim.
Prof Gerrit Olivier
Department of political sciences, University of Pretoria
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