« Obama on power and security | Main | "Facts that are Not Facts" in international politics »
January 22, 2009
Soft power in Obama's inauguration speech
Now that the text of Obama's inauguration speech is now online, it's worth following up Tuesday's look at the role of 'soft power' here. Obama asks listeners to:
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
While I would broaden out Obama's account of power - the construction of certain causes as just, for example, is politically important - it is positive that a recognition of the importance of such factors in politics has been foregrounded in his speech. Now he 'just' needs to put this into practice...
Posted by jon_mendel at January 22, 2009 12:28 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.watsonblogs.org/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1651
