Break Out
Can a woman lead the world's most consequential nation? The answer depends on our ability to break out of an outdated mind frame about power.
Nice mutlu yillara Elifcim! Happy birthday Annie!
It was so simple. On Tuesday night, ABC’s David Muir questioned Kamala Harris on why the Biden administration waited six months before the election to take action on border issues. She launched into a response that spoke about her prosecutorial chops, how Trump killed a bipartisan bill that would have increased border security, and then invited viewers to attend a Trump rally. There, she noted, you would witness how Trump speaks about fictional characters and how attendees leave early “out of exhaustion and boredom.”
Trump took the bait. He let Harris own the remainder of the debate. Democrats gloated. Republicans blamed ABC moderators. Pundits crowed that they never doubted the outcome, even though most have doubted Harris, along with so many other women.
That Kamala Harris would school Donald Trump in a debate was not in question. What has been is whether Harris is “qualified” and “capable” of being president of the United States. It is the question that Hillary Clinton faced when she ran in 2016. Can she handle it?
The “it” is America’s superpower role in the world. Can a woman lead the world’s most consequential nation?
Madeleine Albright faced these questions when she became the first female US secretary of state. Questions about whether men in the Middle East or in Asia, ostensibly patriarchal cultures, would engage and respect her. They did. Having witnessed her in action up front, what struck me was how the men, mostly pale and male, in Washington didn’t.
When it comes to foreign policy, the “Beltway,” as DC insiders are called, are stuck in the past. While they have managed to evolve on a wide range of issues, on global affairs, the Beltway is still stuck in a hard power mindframe. That hard power mindframe boils everything down to aggression and might. Ergo, the president of the United States must be tough. He must be a man.
Except the man on Tuesday’s night stage, who was incidentally, the 45th president, was anything but tough. He was nasty, his favorite term for women, and vitriolic. He was confused and delusional. Trump was far from presidential. (And that’s not counting the fact that he’s a convicted felon.)
As I get back to the grind, I’ve been thinking about how the US is grossly overdue in its approach to foreign policy. Tuesday night’s debate helped put that into focus. Power is no longer a male bastion. It belongs to those who are prepared and considered; to those who understand the consequences of their decisions; to those who can evolve as the world does.
And the world has. The rise of China has challenged the global order and, thereby, the US’s long held command of the liberal world order. Once upon a time, America’s military and economic might influenced if not directed world events. Today, as we confront climate change, global health issues, and hurtle towards AI, it is America’s investment in alliances and diplomacy. DC needs to double down on international rule of law and norms. It’s still not there yet — and getting there won’t be simple. It will require more than just a choice about our next president. It’s time to break out of a straightjacketed mindset that believes that aggression and might (and perhaps swagger) should direct US foreign policy. That we, in 2024, still have not is scary. (Yes, that’s a Friday the 13th reference. 😱) — Elmira
I’m opening up my column to others. Please pitch me your op-ed idea/perspective. Let’s get more female perspectives. Email me on endeavoringe@gmail.com or respond to this post.
Elsewhere in the World.....
On our radar...
Oh Donald. Are you really that predictable? The answer is yes. Kamala Harris needled him several times throughout the debate on Tuesday — and did he take the bait. Susan Glasser breaks down his pathetic performance and explains why it might not matter. (New Yorker)
Pollsters say domestic issues will decide the November election. Yet, Leslie Vinjamuri notes that Tuesday’s debate showed that America’s international standing and its future global role are still central to who wins the White House. (Chatham House)
Well, this is something. On Thursday, US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced that the US supported the creation of two permanent seats for Africa on the UN Security Council and one rotating seat for island nations. That’s in addition to bringing Germany, India, and Japan into the body. Michelle Nichols has the story. (Reuters)
In terms of how likely this is to happen — talk about UN Security Council reform is decades old. Adding any new members requires the approval of all five of the permanent members as well as the approval of two-thirds of the General Assembly (to change the UN Charter). My guess is that this is more optics; the US trying to ingratiate itself with Africa and Pacific Island nations, who are increasingly being pulled into China’s orbit. A big deal nonetheless.
Seek and you shall find — brilliant women. For the second year in a row, the three Blavatnik Family Foundation’s National Awards for Young Scientists, done in collaboration with the New York Academy of Sciences, have been awarded to women. The three areas: life sciences, chemical sciences, and physical sciences. The award is open to “promising, faculty-level scientific researchers under 42.” Each category has a separate, independent jury. MORE OF THIS, PLEASE. (PR Newswire)
US
Wednesday marked the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Maha Hilal writes about how that launched the War on Terror, in which thousands of Muslims were targeted. None have found a mechanism for crimes perpetrated against them. (Middle East Eye)
This is a super interesting piece: The race for the global balance of power does not depend on Europe or East Asia, say Aparna Pande and Arthur Herman. It’s India. If Washington wants to counter a rising China and maintain the global world order it should develop a strong strategic partnership with New Delhi. 🤔 (The Hill)
Africa
Algeria held elections on September 7. There were no real surprises, as the re-election of Abdelmadjid Tebboune seemed inevitable. He took power in 2019, after nationwide protests led to the ousting of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who had ruled for 20 years. Tebboune ran on the slogan, “For a victorious Algeria,” promising economic renewal. Amel Boubekeur questions his ability to deliver that without institutional reforms. (Middle East Institute)
Watch: Sudan is experiencing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The question is: Who will hold the perpetrators accountable? The UN wants to deploy a peacekeeping force. Sudan’s government says it is not welcome. Dallia Abdelmonieum joins a discussion on this tragedy. (Al Jazeera)
Asia
On August 5, following protests, Bangladesh’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina resigned. The daughter of the country’s first prime minister and liberator, she had been the country’s longest serving ruler. Many accused her of gross human rights violations, including the suppression of opposition parties and opponents. The tipping point came after she proposed quotas on public sector jobs for descendants of fighters in Bangladesh’s independence. The kids were having none of it. Tithi Bhattacharya dives into how the protests were years in the making. (Time)
In Afghanistan, the Taliban has passed more restrictions on women. No school. No beauty parlors. Restricted movement in public. An anonymous woman in Afghanistan writes about living under such conditions. (The Guardian)
Australia has plans for a census in 2026. Normally, the counting of people is not newsworthy. Yet, after a government minister stepped back from including a question about identity, outrage abounded. Liz Allen has the details, and how the matter has eroded trust in the country. (The Diplomat)
The Americas
After a disputed presidential election, Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez fled to Spain to seek asylum. Sarah Shamim and Elizabeth Melimopoulos explain what’s next for the opposition in Venezuela. (Al Jazeera)
Mexico’s Senate approved outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s sweeping judicial reform that overhauls the country's judiciary. Judges will now be elected. What does that mean for the rule of law? Cassandra Garrison and Adriana Barrera explain. (Reuters)
X, formerly known as Twitter, is now banned in Brazil — following a bitter and public spat between the Brazilian judge and X’s owner, Elon Musk. On the surface, the showdown between the Brazilian judge and Musk appears to be personal. Yasmin Curzi de Mendonça argues that it’s about national sovereignty, freedom of speech, and the rule of law. (The Conversation)
“Officials in roughly half of Latin American and Caribbean countries have described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocidal…” Yet the DC based Organization of American States (OAS) has not “echoed” these sentiments. Francesca Emanuele notes that the divided position on Gaza is causing a rift in the Western Hemisphere and may erode the OAS’s legitimacy. (Foreign Policy)
Europe
France finally has a prime minister. Following the snap elections in early July, which gave no one party an outright majority, President Emmanuel Macron struggled to appoint a PM that would be acceptable to all parties. He landed on Michel Barnier, a conservative. This has angered the left coalition that had pushed Macron to appoint a leader from its ranks. Alexandra Sharp has more. (Foreign Policy)
Do Armenia and Azerbaijan’s possible reconciliation hold the key to peace between Ukraine and Russia? Sasha Vakulina makes the case for it. (Euronews)
Middle East
An Israeli soldier killed American citizen Ayşenur Eygi last week during a protest against settlements in the West Bank. Ellen Ioanes on how Israel keeps evading responsibility for killing Americans. (Vox)
Will the ICC issue arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yahya Sinwar? It should, says Kelebogile Zvobgo. (Brookings)
Science & Climate Change
Coastal cities are growing increasingly vulnerable to hurricanes. Wanyun Shao dives deep on the ways climate change and fast population growth are feeding the issue. (The Conversation)
Technology
Google and Apple both lost their court battles against the EU, owing billions in penalties and fines. Jenny Gross and Adam Satariano weigh in on the ways these cases are establishing the EU as the world’s leading watchdog on big tech. (NYT)
Editorial Team
Elmira Bayrasli - Editor-in-Chief
Editors:
Pin-Shan Lai
Catherine Lovizio
Emily Smith