Has Obama changed America's standing in the world?
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At the G20 America is perhaps inevitably on the sidelines. Exhorting. Not laying down the law. But some worry that has become almost doctrine.
President Obama's actions abroad can exacerbate existing worries about its role in the world.
America may seem too young a country to be suffering from a mid-life crisis. But people who grew up in a nation that never doubted its power, wealth and vigour are suffering status anxiety.
Are they no longer the best? Doomed to decline?
From those fears flow more questions. Have they been too arrogant? Are they no longer feared? Is being loved more important ?
President Obama inherited this; he didn't invent it.
Changing America's image
Inside the White House a rather grim-looking President Obama strides past me, muttering distracted greetings as he leaves the Situation Room.
Not far behind is Ben Rhodes, his speech writer and senior foreign adviser. He tells me that President Obama has improved America's image in the world.
"He has always rejected the notion that there is some sort of choice between realism and idealism in foreign policy. His view is fundamentally that America acts in our interests - our security interest, our economic interest - but because of the nature of the country we are, that is always undergirded by a sense of idealism and values.
"Because we believe the success of human rights around the world leads to more stable situations and more reliable partners. When the United States is building international and collective action in terms of common challenges, that meets our idealism about global action.
"But it is also in our interests because it fosters burden-sharing, reduces costs and creates great legitimacy for what we are doing."
He says when President Obama came into office he was determined to change America's image in the eyes of the world.
"The two wars had over-militarised our foreign policy. We had very large military footprints overseas.
"But we had a reduction in America's standing in the world in part because of the war in Iraq, and so it was harder to get agreement on key issues. So we really came into office thinking about how we could change the face of American foreign policy."
A jokey intimacy
But critics say President Obama hasn't worked hard enough at the personal dimension of diplomacy; that he just doesn't have any friends among foreign leaders.
It is something the White House agonises about.
read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15586726
President Obama's actions abroad can exacerbate existing worries about its role in the world.
America may seem too young a country to be suffering from a mid-life crisis. But people who grew up in a nation that never doubted its power, wealth and vigour are suffering status anxiety.
Are they no longer the best? Doomed to decline?
From those fears flow more questions. Have they been too arrogant? Are they no longer feared? Is being loved more important ?
President Obama inherited this; he didn't invent it.
Changing America's image
Inside the White House a rather grim-looking President Obama strides past me, muttering distracted greetings as he leaves the Situation Room.
Not far behind is Ben Rhodes, his speech writer and senior foreign adviser. He tells me that President Obama has improved America's image in the world.
"He has always rejected the notion that there is some sort of choice between realism and idealism in foreign policy. His view is fundamentally that America acts in our interests - our security interest, our economic interest - but because of the nature of the country we are, that is always undergirded by a sense of idealism and values.
"Because we believe the success of human rights around the world leads to more stable situations and more reliable partners. When the United States is building international and collective action in terms of common challenges, that meets our idealism about global action.
"But it is also in our interests because it fosters burden-sharing, reduces costs and creates great legitimacy for what we are doing."
He says when President Obama came into office he was determined to change America's image in the eyes of the world.
"The two wars had over-militarised our foreign policy. We had very large military footprints overseas.
"But we had a reduction in America's standing in the world in part because of the war in Iraq, and so it was harder to get agreement on key issues. So we really came into office thinking about how we could change the face of American foreign policy."
A jokey intimacy
But critics say President Obama hasn't worked hard enough at the personal dimension of diplomacy; that he just doesn't have any friends among foreign leaders.
It is something the White House agonises about.
read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15586726
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