‘So, would you vote for Kamala?’ said the Spaniard to the German as I reached for the cheese platter next to them. ‘America is in a very interesting geopolitical landscape’, I overheard in a Balkan accent while waiting in line for the bathroom. Every table at my university networking event was buzzing about the same topic – America.
Trump versus Kamala. Republicans versus Democrats. Us versus them. It feels like an all-or-nothing battle. But why? Is it because it’s easier to understand politics as a simplified showdown between good and bad? Do people crave an underdog versus villain narrative to make something as nuanced as politics feel digestible?
As a student of science, politics is a foreign language to me. Everyone seems plugged into the latest political drama, but I am more lost than Alice was in Wonderland. If I’m Alice, then university is the Cheshire cat – a mysterious, philosophical, cryptic and confusing guide – because there is no better place for global political discussions than the UG. So, before I jump down this rabbit hole, I have to ask: How much should I care?
The global obsession with American politics makes it seem like the world revolves around one, albeit large, country
The global obsession with American politics makes it seem like the world revolves around one, albeit large, country. But every nation boasts its own unique political landscape and is quick to defend its national pride. Why does American politics get to be the global spectacle?
Economic and geopolitical arguments are often key players in this debate. The U.S. has the largest economy in the world, and its elections can affect everything from international trade agreements to worldwide economic stability. With its military might and influence on international relations, the U.S. is vital in shaping global affairs. In layman’s terms: their problems are our problems.
But does that not oversimplify the intricate local issues each nation faces? When countries care too much about U.S. elections, they risk importing American disputes that don’t even align with their own political or cultural contexts. Electoral outcomes are often overhyped. There’s a global misconception that a new U.S. president brings radical change, when in reality, American foreign policy tends to follow a stable, long-term strategy.
With the internet feeding us a never-ending loop of news, it’s easy to get sucked in. But here’s the thing: the world keeps turning, no matter who’s in the White House. As students, we should be engaged with the world and its direction. But we must not confuse one country’s election with the fate of the entire world. America is not the world, the rest of the globe is writing its own story too.
CARLA ERASMUS