[helene_t]

At hi school (sorry I mean grammar school) I was annoyed by the fact that my classmates were more familiar with the U.S. justice system than with the Danish one. Our history teacher made the same observation.

But now, as always during a U.S. presidential election campaign, I find myself spending more time reading about it than I would during an election campaign for the EP, EC, House of Commons or the Dutch second chamber.

Although I don't watch television, my impression from European newspapers is that the attention paid to US politics is very high. Maybe not quite as high as national elections but much higher than EP and EC elections (of course the fact that citizens do not vote for the EC explains the latter, at least partly).

We Europeans love bashing the U.S. so most will probably agree with me that U.S. politics is just another episode of the Idols show (i.e. it's about charisma and gossip but not about politics) while European politics is serious But nevertheless U.S. politics is somehow fascinating.

Is it just me? If not, why?

[kenberg]

Well, I probably follow American politics more because I am an American.

Maybe part of the issue is that in North America there are three countries. Somewhat more in Europe. Learning US history and politics becomes somewhat easier than learning Spanish politics and French politics and Italian politics and ... you get the idea. And then you (well, some of you) have all those Dukes and Lords and God only knows what all.

Recently I saw Les Miserables. Very good, by the way. But between 1812 or so and the twentieth century I have a complete void in my knowledge of what went on in France. Something in 1832 or so involving a red and black flag I gather. I took a little evil satisfaction from the result of asking a Swiss woman in our group to explain. She said something about the Sun King! He sort of retired around 1789 didn't he?

[awm]

Part of it is the parliamentary system in many (not all) European countries. This means proportionate representation, and to the degree that there is a single national "leader" that person is selected by the parliament and not by a direct popular vote.

It's also the case that the US remains the most powerful country in the world. The choice of US president probably has a lot more impact in France (for example) than the choice of French president has in the USA.

[blackshoe]

The Sun King was Louis XIV (1638-1715, r. 1643-1715). Louis XVI, aka "Louis the Last", was executed in 1789 as a result of the French Revolution. Les Miserables covers a couple of decades starting with the fall of Napoleon in 1815, and ending shortly after the Paris Uprising of 1832.

[RichMor]

I voted for 'other'. I think US national politics is just so darn entertaining.

In what other country in the world could one see littleGeorge on television ? The man is pure humor.

[matmat]

some people enjoy watching train wrecks.

[cherdano]

Good question. I have lived in Germany for 29 years and in the US for 2 years, and I have never followed politics in Germany as closely as I have been following politics here.

Despite the impression that European media tends to give, there is actually a lot more at stake in an US election than in a German election. The differences in substance between Democrats and Republicans are bigger than those between the Green party and the CDU (the "conservative" party - in the US, they would all count as "liberals") in Germany.
Moreover, the society is a lot more diverse and divided - an NRA member and a Planned Parenthood activist probably have many different political opinions, but they also live their political life in different political universes (reading different blogs, getting their information from different media, whose commentators in turn draw their political philosophies from different figures, books, ...). Which means the NRA member just doesn't trust the PP activist when he gets any power, and vice versa. Most people in the US seem a lot more afraid of their side losing in an election.

But I am not sure that explains why Helene finds US politics more interesting...

[grrigg]

To add to what already has been said:

American President has far more individual power then any of the elected officials in Western Europe. Somewhat paradoxically, this leads to fascination with personality and disinterest in qualifications of the candidates. The individual views and opinions of the President really do matter very much as he has the power of veto and the power to appoint federal judges.

[kenberg]

blackshoe, on Sep 27 2008, 04:24 PM, said:

The Sun King was Louis XIV (1638-1715, r. 1643-1715). Louis XVI, aka "Louis the Last", was executed in 1789 as a result of the French Revolution. Les Miserables covers a couple of decades starting with the fall of Napoleon in 1815, and ending shortly after the Paris Uprising of 1832.

Right. I got to thinking afterward that I had that wrong. But I am an American so no one expects much.


So I did a quick review of French history. Louis XVIII even. Louis Louis. And I now have it straight when Napoleon was exiled where. I was sure it was twice, but forgot the specifics. Now I can move on to the Norwegians, the Dutch and so on. Genetically I am pretty much Norwegian. My lack of knowledge is embarrassing.

I guess there could be various ways of looking at how much attention is paid to US elections.

It would not amaze me to hear that Danes pay more attention to US politics than to Canadian politics. Probably, or at least possibly, they pay more attention to American politics than to French politics. It would surprise me if they paid more attention to American politics than to Danish politics.

Here is another issue. I get the idea, maybe wrongly, that often in European politics the allegiance is fairly tightly correlated with social class. Here I would say that it is not. Possibly this makes our politics more interesting. I'm guessing.

And of course Europeans can read English language newspapers. This is very asymmetric.

And then there is the fact that we are probably the only nation that, without help from others, could completely destroy the world. That gets attention.

[blackshoe]

Mother Nature is, I suspect, more resilient than we expect. The US nuclear arsenal could certainly put a serious hurt on life on Earth, and might well make humans extinct, but I think the planet would recover, eventually.

[kenberg]

blackshoe, on Sep 27 2008, 09:18 PM, said:

Mother Nature is, I suspect, more resilient than we expect. The US nuclear arsenal could certainly put a serious hurt on life on Earth, and might well make humans extinct, but I think the planet would recover, eventually.

It's true, we probably can only wipe out the human race. No need to worry. If you are a cockroach.

Possibly we cannot even do that. American hubris again. I exaggerated maybe a bit. But probably the considerable effect, for better or worse, that our actions have on the world does partially account for the interest.

And of course we have put up a rather intriguing cast of characters.


Some years back there was an Italian politician who, when she wished to strongly represent her views, would show her breasts. This caused considerable American interest in Italian politics. No, I am not suggesting that Gov. Palin adopt this approach. Not Joe Biden either.

[Al_U_Card]

Probably because it is the most noble system and has the greatest potential (both ways) to serve or disserve its adherents.

Created by men imbued with enlightened self-interest, it carries within it their highest ideals. How this system is maintained and abused fascinates us.

[onoway]

On the radio yesterday there were complaints about Canadians being more interested in the American presidential race than in our own elections coming up. Well;
1) nobody in our own elections seems to be saying or doing anything of substance either but they are doing it with much less colour
2) to me at least, it is fascinating to see how so many people in the States are so aggressive in showing that they think with the acumen of a sack of bricks. (we have proportionately as many in Canada but they tend to be less enthusiastically open about it) "I'm voting McCain/Palin, he was a POW and she's hot!" (or "she's a hockey mom!")
3) Some Canadians are gearing up for another massive influx of the "best and brightest" Americans should McCain win
4) Some Canadians are gearing up to move to Europe or Australia or other distant spots should McCain win
5) Since the recent past shows that our government prefers to have the American government make at least some decisions for us, it's only natural we should be more interested in the American race.