(Photo: CNN)
In the United States, there’s no doubt that political debates, particularly presidential ones, are a spectacle. On Tuesday, the country watched what was described by CNN’s Jake Tapper as “a hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck” (CNN). Moderator Chris Wallace desperately tried to rein in the President’s frequent interruptions, but to no avail. 90 minutes blew by in a chaotic whirl and many Americans turned off their TVs wondering what exactly it was they just watched.
Political debates hold a special place in politics across the world. Most countries in the European Union hold televised debates, as do Malawi, Indonesia, India, Uruguay, Iran, and Liberia. The U.S. Commission on Presidential Debates gives assistance to nations who want to establish their own debates and sends teams of experts to advise them on how to form these events, holding workshops where organizers from across the world share ideas and experiences (Trainer). Overall, 78 countries have debates that reflect the US model.
Debates have historically held a great deal of weight in elections. April 14, 1994 marked the day of South Africa’s first presidential debate between Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Clerk before its momentous election (nelsonmandela.org). Many believe Justin Trudeau’s performance in Canada’s 2015 debate contributed to his party’s victory in the general election.
Of course, the purpose of a presidential debate is supposed to be a noble one. A moment when voters can watch candidates go toe to toe, speaking on issues that matter and clearly putting forth their arguments so that the people can make an informed decision on who they want to represent them. To many, a political debate is a reflection of democracy at its finest.
On televisions across the world, America did not shine very brightly two days ago. German public broadcasting service Deutsche Welle called the debate “a complex and utterly disordered and mismanaged situation: a muddled mess.” (Deutche Welle). Bruce Wolpe, chief of staff to former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard wrote the event was “a horrible, disastrous, useless session that left viewers utterly disappointed” (Politico). The reviews only get worse.
Tuesday’s affair is perhaps an excellent manifestation of the rapidly changing political norms we have seen in the past few years. The United States holds a prominent place in the world, but for many other countries, their respect for the US is declining. German political researcher Stephen Bierling shares that “The U.S. has always been a democratic role model, but our motherland of democracy has gone down a dangerous path” (Washington Post). In a majority of countries, those in the general public with a favorable view of the United States is at its lowest point since the topic was monitored beginning two decades ago.
The above image depicts those with a favorable view of the U.S (Pew Research Center)
(Pew Research Center)
A large part of these low numbers is on account of the world’s view of the U. S coronavirus response, which many dubbed disastrous. It is clear that the globe no longer sees the US with the eyes it once did, due to reasons ranging from climate change, its handling of coronavirus, and perhaps its lack of decorum on the world stage. In most other countries, serious political debates are thoroughly immersed in policy and controlled strictly by the moderator. Accordingly, Tuesday’s tumult was watched with wide eyes and a certain level of shock. However, it begs the question if what the world saw in the presidential debate is a sign of something bigger. Is the United States losing its place in the world?
Sources:
https://www.dw.com/en/donald-trump-and-joe-biden-clash-in-chaotic-first-debate/a-55098690
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/09/30/jake-tapper-dana-bash-debate-reaction-vpx.cnn
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/30/the-worst-presidential-debate-in-history-423765
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/09/30/trump-biden-debate-global-reaction-us-decline/
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