Abstract: The election of Barack Obama is a historic moment for the United States in many respects, and it will influence the American posture in world politics. Its primary importance is that it marks the arrival of multi-cultural politics to the highest level of American domestic politics. In conjunction with the problems of American military intervention in the Middle East and especially with the world economic crisis, it also marks a turning point in American foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. Lastly, the replacement of George W. Bush by Barack Obama will mean a sharp reversal of many domestic and foreign policies.

Despite the significance of these historic turning points, there will be numerous continuities with the past. The Bush administration leaves a legacy of policy inertia that creates the starting point for Obama’s presidency. To the extent that Obama tries to return to the Clinton era of American foreign policy, American diplomacy is likely to be defensive rather than forward-looking. Lastly, the structure of American politics has not changed with Obama’s election.

Keywords:Barack Obama; George W. Bush; change; continuity

[Jilin University Journal Social Sciences Edition,2009(3)]