2. Barack Hussein Obama
II
Born on August 4, 1961
in Honolulu, Hawaii
Studied at Occidental
College then transferred
to Columbia University
1988-Harvard Law
School
1990- Was first African-
American editor of the
‘Harvard Law Review’
3. After graduation worked as a civil rights lawyer
1992-2004- Teacher at the University of Chicago
Law School
1996-Illinois State senator
2004-U.S. Senator
2009-44th President of the U.S.
4. Obama’s unusual family history embodied the
American Dream
His mother, Ann Dunham was
white, his father, Obama Sr. was
from Kenya
• Had a multiethnic upbringing
• Represented a new hope; the end
of America’s racial issues
5. In his campaign he emphasized hope and change
6. Foreign policy
5 foreign policy goals:
- ending the war in Iraq
- finishing the fight against Al-Queda and Taliban
- securing nuclear weapons from rogue states
- achieving energy security
- rebuilding the alliances
7. Obama Doctrine
2 ideas:- America’s role in the world has been
aggressive and arrogant in promoting
democracy
- Multilateral institutions restrain U.S.A
power
• Emphasis on negotiation and collaboration
• Re-building broken relationships and building new
alliances
• Repairing the U.S. image
8. Obama told that his election as the first black
president could change geopolitical dynamics.
He tries to do that by marketing his background.
Cooperative realism: realist assessment of the threat
posed by non traditional sources and the limits of US
power to tackle those threats single-handedly
9. Middle East
Retreated the American troops from Iraq
Continued the war in Afghanistan
USA does not want to establish long term military
presence in either country.
Prevent violent extremism
Engaged in discussion with Iran on the nuclear
weapons
10. The Israel-Palestine conflict:
-Obama promotes a two-state solution: the two are
radically different and cannot be reconciled
-opposes the Israeli expansion
• This makes look the US has an ‘even-handed policy’
• In 2011 Obama intervened in the conflict in Libya
11. Russia
‘Reset button’-improving relations with Russia
The policy has 3 goals:
-the heightened urgency of resolving the Iranian
nuclear question
-the need for additional transport routes into
Afghanistan to support a larger US military presence
-a return to a more multilateral approach to
ensuring nuclear security and strengthening the non-
proliferation regime
12. Working with Russia to reduce nuclear weapons
2011-New START Treaty
Arms control treaty- nuclear missile launchers will
be reduced by half
13. North Korea
After Obama’s inauguration in 2009 North Korea
threatened to test nuclear weapons
Obama administration showed restraint and didn’t
act
US does not allow investment, trade or aid flow to
North Korea
14. Climate change
Reducing the emissions and developing low carbon
technologies
Countries that contribute to atmospheric emissions
must undertake actions in order to cut greenhouse
gas emissions
Copenhagen Accord-between US and BASIC
Countries ( China, South Africa, India, Brasil)
