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Why do we watch the US?

By Brendon O'Connor - posted Thursday, 30 August 2012


Yes, many people spent a week of their lives hearing and caring about this ''debate'' in 2008. So, like watching television in general, there are certainly ways to watch elections more smartly, with a lot of the most interesting material not being on TV.

Even during the most superficial presidential elections (like the 1988 contest or the dull and duller race of 2000) important issues are discussed. More positively, often fascinating figures come to your attention and by following someone such as Bill Clinton, John McCain or Barack Obama you have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of not only American politics but human nature.

On the other hand, like many people, my following of these characters is often a simple case of pure voyeurism. A simple reason for the popularity of US election coverage is that the US elections offer great stories.

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They throw up fascinating characters to follow and watch. I have read endless amounts about George W. Bush's drinking habits, the McCains' marital fights, Sarah Palin's knowledge - or should that be lack of knowledge - of global geography and Obama's Australian girlfriend from his life in New York city in his 20s.

Although I would argue these are engaging stories, their importance is highly questionable. However, given the vanity of much American politics the stories of such potential (and actual) world leaders struggling to live up to their own ambitions is fascinating and hard to resist.

Mention of Sarah Palin brings me to my final point about watching US elections: this pastime allows us to laugh at Americans.

This is tremendously healthy (if at times bordering on gallows humour when instead of being passed over like Palin was, a Bush jnr actually goes on to get elected). The US has a history of overreacting to criticism and at times, too quickly calling it anti-Americanism.

Generally, though, it simply ignores criticism, allowing the less powerful to have a harmless laugh at its expense.

So, like many things in life, American politics can be really important, very trivial and sometimes simply funny.

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This article was first published in The Canberra Times on 29 August, 2012.



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About the Author

Brendon O'Connor is an Associate Professor in the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and is the 2008 Australia Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC. He is the editor of seven books on anti-Americanism and has also published articles and books on American welfare policy, presidential politics, US foreign policy, and Australian-American relations.

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Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

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