The Bush administration of 2008 has also traveled a long way from the administration of 2003. In his second term, Bush made a concerted effort to repair the transatlantic relationship, in part by endorsing negotiations with Iran. The United States started talking to North Korea about its nuclear program, and has recently removed Pyongyang from the list of terrorist-supporting states. The Bush administration revamped its counterinsurgency approach in Iraq, stabilizing the country while recognizing the inevitability of withdrawing the bulk of American forces. Ironically, the Bush administration's policy positions have gravitated toward the positions of Barack Obama.

Bush has received little credit for these steps, but Obama will get to reap some of the benefits. Other countries could always rely on anti-American and anti-Bush sentiment as an excuse for non-cooperation. With the change in administrations, that excuse will no longer work.

Beyond the gifts that George W. Bush will bestow upon him, president-elect Obama will also be responsible for burnishing America's soft power in one crucial dimension. With his election, Obama has managed to embody the American Dream—a dream that still holds some attraction in the rest of the world. The first words of his acceptance speech emphasized this point: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

The realists are correct to say that the election of Barack Obama will not mollify Russia or democratize China. What his election might do, however, is grease the wheels of diplomacy a bit between the world's most powerful democracy and its allies. In the game of world politics, that counts for something.

© 2008