Why Europe loves a leader it could never vote for
In July 2008 Barack Obama came to Berlin and the people gave him a warm welcome, because they adore him – for America. In his article “Why Europe loves a leader it could never vote for” Stefan Theil explains why a person like Obama could not win elections in Europe.
Due to barriers against migrants and overt racism and a policy that encourage conformism and homogeneity Europe’s approach to ethnic diversity get stucked.
Possibly Obamas candidacy could drive the issue forward. But still it would take a long time, till Europe is ready for that step.
“Michael Stuber, a diversity expert in Cologne, thinks that a decade from now, Europe too will be ready for minority candidates for high office. What happens if Obama loses, now that so many Europeans have invested their hopes in his victory? The Atlantic that grew just a bit smaller last week will be just as wide as usual.”
The Article was published in “newsweek”, 26th of July 2008
