Post-Obama U.S. Global Strategy: Democratic Heritage for the Republican Administration

Policy of the Obama administration and its results require serious analysis and evaluation. As a result of its international strategy key problems of world politics became more acute and alarming. Issues of international security were on the frontline of the world policy agenda due to American and NATO actions that were far from being peaceful. Not very wise activities of the United States in Arab countries brought instability and civil discontent, growth of terrorist groups and their activities; desperate people from countries in civil wars moved to the European states, causing migration and identity crisis. By 2016 polycentric character of the world manifested itself more clearly, putting serious dilemma for the American government and demanding new strategy and tactics to deal with world order formation to preserve mechanisms of control over this trend. Relations with Russia reached its lowest point acquiring confrontational character that was disadvantageous for both sides. China started to pursue more decisive policy at the global and regional levels. Russia and China continued and broadened cooperation within  Eurasian integration projects, and this interaction was viewed with disapproval and enmity in the United States that does not want rapprochement between these great powers. Presidential elections in the United States in 2016 demonstrated critical aspects in the functioning of American political system, crisis of both Republican and Democratic parties. Donald Trump, who won the elections, led his primaries independently from the Republican party elite and donors who had to acknowledge his victory and nominate him as the party candidate. Donald Trump was considered as a controversial person not very suitable for the presidential position, and debates about and around
him did not stop with the end of the elections. It is not clear what kind of international strategy he chooses, how he will deal with leading world powers, first of all, with Russia and China. The most important question is whether he will change the character of American foreign policy which was rather militant under the Obama administration. It is not a simple dilemma as there is no visible and broad political basis for dramatic shift to make American behavior in international relations more peaceful. It is not clear whether the United States is ready to come to agreement with other powers on issues of world order.

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