The U.S. Election

It's always amazing, and a bit humbling, how focused the rest of the world is on the U.S. elections - and also more than a bit embarrassing how little attention we pay to theirs. When I was in Kenya in September the Kenyans, naturally enough, were absolutely fascinated by the election. Everyone I met asked me if Obama would win or even could win. There was also great interest in South Africa, and here in Morocco. Most of the folks are hoping Obama wins, mainly because they view it as the opportunity for a much-needed change in American foreign policy. They are hoping that an Obama presidency would bring about a more balanced foreign policy - or at the very least a presidency that will actually look out to the rest of the world with a sense of leadership and optimism, as compared to fear and protectionism. For the Africans, especially, the hope is that an Obama presidency might signal an interest in a part of the world that routinely feels completely marginalized if not outright ignored. Here at Al Akhawayn University, up in Ifrane, Morocco in the Middle Atlas mountains, the students are actually having a mock election on Tuesday, that includes presentations by professors, as well as a celebration around both the mock election held here at the real one being held in the U.S. (or at least we hope it's not a mock one in the U.S. as well). I always tell my students that as American voters they have the most important and serious job in the world in that they are truly voting for the planet. Or, as my good friend Bouziane Zaid says, everyone on the planet should be able to vote in the U.S. election because the results impact them directly.