Loosing an easy target

Over the last eight years, it was easy to dislike the US and its policies around the world. All too often, America-bashing seemed to become a favorite past-time without understanding the country’s internal dynamics. Especially in academia, uncritical bashing of the US has been all to common, underestimated the ability of the country to renew itself.

It will not be an easy job for Obama to restore the country’s international standing. At the same time, it should be also an opportunity to abandon the easy target and to try to understand America’s complexity better and to also admire its ability to change.