Abstract
This essay explores the political discourse and the institutional context at the start of President Obama’s second term. Given the current institutional fragmentation and highly divisive political discourse the question is: will President Obama be more successful in implementing reforms in his second term than he was in his first term in office? With the economy slowly recovering, the political space for policy choices in the second Obama term is widening, but, as the following analysis shows, choices are complex and—against the backdrop of a highly fragmented political system—at times paradoxical. Policy fields examined include economic policies and the fiscal cliff, immigration reform, climate change policy and the discourse on civil rights. The deep rift between Republicans and Democrats makes compromising more difficult, if not unlikely.
Zusammenfassung
Dieser Essay behandelt die politischen Startbedingungen der zweiten Amtszeit von US-Präsident Obama. Vor dem Hintergrund eines stark polarisierten Diskurses stellt sich die Frage, ob die Reformpolitik Obamas in seiner zweiten Amtszeit erfolgreicher als in der ersten Amtszeit sein wird. Aufgrund der wirtschaftlichen Erholung hat sich der politische Spielraum für Reformen zwar geöffnet, jedoch bleiben die Entscheidungsalternativen komplex und – angesichts des stark fragmentierten politischen Systems – teilweise paradox. Reformperspektiven werden anhand der Debatte um die Haushalts- und Wirtschaftspolitik, die Einwanderungsgesetze, den Klimawandel sowie die zivilen Rechte erörtert. Angesichts der gegenwärtigen tiefen Spaltung zwischen den Demokraten und den Republikanern sind Kompromisse schwierig, wenn nicht gar unmöglich zu erreichen.
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Article note: The author wishes to thank Christopher Niedt, Hofstra University, and Erica Lee, New York University, for helpful comments and suggestions.
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Lemke, C. Reshaping America? Policy choices and policy dilemmas in the second Obama term. Z Vgl Polit Wiss 7, 101–116 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12286-013-0149-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12286-013-0149-6