The final presidential debate falls tonight, capping the three part series and ushering in the sprint to election day. The topic this evening, foreign policy, might be one of the most divisive in general terms between the Democrats and Republicans. It is really two competing visions for America’s role in the world, divided by the means to the same end: a stable world in which America plays the lead.
But the substance is important. Republicans want to lead through force, by perpetually hanging the threat of war over the heads of our non-friends to keep us and our friends safe. Democrats, led by Obama’s efforts, see a much more internationally-led effort for world stability, where the United States uses diplomacy backed up by the strengths of our military.
There are too many schools of thought to determine who is right. The globe is a patchwork of interlocking cultures, just like the tectonic plates beneath our feet, that move and jostle, and sometimes erupt in a violent and harmful fashion.
Force, as a threat to keep nations in line, is less tenable than cooperation. Force can have a negative effect, a backlash, that unifies a nation, even when they are unifying behind an incompetent leader who is behaving dangerously. Cooperation helps the people of other nations, leading to progress and new connections that can have a long term effect on global stability. The European Union just won the Nobel Peace Prize, and for very good reason. Europe, since history began, has been at war, culminating in the two world wars last century. The European Project began as a way to integrate the countries so thoroughly that war could never been an option again. In that regard, at least for now, it has succeeded monumentally, to the point where the recent European generations know nothing of war.
Romney will have a hard time taking on Obama overall with foreign policy, and will focus on Iran and China tonight, trying to make Obama seem weak. While the nations who will be watching will take the debate with a grain of salt, messages to them can still get through. From Republicans, the message is: watch out, America will still come in there and get you. From the Democrats, the message is: watch out, the world doesn’t tolerate what you’re doing, and you’ll find it very difficult to go it alone. We’ll see what the American people respond to more, how well Obama can tout his credentials, or how well Romney incites the thirst for violence among the conservatives.
