There is much speculation about the effect of an Obama presidency on international public opinion toward the United States. So this morning I checked the front pages of international newspapers to get a sense of the tone of their coverage of the US election. Here are the results of my un-scientific scan.
Most English-language papers had the American election story on their front page-- it was the main headline and main picture. They generally used positive and hyperbolic language, like "sweep," "swamp," "landslide," and "historic." I went to some non-English sites too... and although I couldn't read most of the articles, it was clear that the main stories were about Obama's victory, since there were usually pictures of him alongside the text.
A major exception were the Russian news sites. Almost every Russian newspaper I saw either ignored the elections or mentioned them toward the bottom of the page. I checked Kommersant, a Russian online daily, which didn't mention the US election except one headline about half way down that said "Obama's victory won't warm Russia's-US relations." No mention on The Moscow Times, which is a leading English language Russian newspaper. The Interfax Information Agency, a major Russian news service that tends to be pro-Kremlin, did have a glossy bar of U.S. election links and thumbnail pictures that looked like an advertisement toward the bottom of its front page.
The one Russian exception I found was also the most anti-US international story about the election. Pravda, which is a pro-government new site, led with the headline, "A Change for the better":
Only Satan would have been worse than the Bush regime. Therefore it could be argued that the new administration in the USA could never be worse than the one which divorced the hearts and minds of Americans from their brothers in the international community, which appalled the rest of the world with shock and awe tactics that included concentration camps, torture, mass murder and utter disrespect for international law. Yet in choosing Obama, the people of America have opted to come back into the international fold. Welcome back, friends!
At the other end of this spectrum are the Indian newspapers. In general my experience with the Indian press is that they are pretty attuned to US politics.
The main Times of India story:
Obama wins, America triumphs: The planet's best-loved and often-reviled nation upheld the noble ideals of its founding fathers by electing a mixed-race African-American as its 44th president.
Even the Mumbai Mirror, which is a sometimes-gossipy local paper, highlighted American elections news. It was a reader's poll in the place of its main front page headline "Will the election of Barack Obama as the US President benefit India?" (When I checked, 58% said yes).
Online newspapers in the two countries to which Obama has personal links-- Kenya and Indonesia-- led with personal stories.
The Jakarta Post (Indonesia): Menteng students overjoyed with Obama's win
Obama... Obama... Obama... We love you!" yelled hundreds of students from all grades in a Menteng elementary school in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, as they watched results come in for the U.S. presidential election. Students and teachers were overjoyed to suspend classes, gather in a 1,500 square meter ballroom and witness how a former student of the school became elected the next president of the United States.
The Standard (Kenya): Mama Sarah: No need for early celebrations.
No early celebrations please! Let’s keep on praying until it’s all over!" This was the message from Mama Sarah Hussein Obama, as she waited for the results of the US elections.
Lastly, here are some more usual headlines. All except the last were the lead story on the new organization's website. The Venezuelan one is interesting because it frames the election win in a way that focuses on Chavez instead of Obama. And I like the Canadian one for its contrast to the general euphoria... it was all business. Nothing about change and historic elections and such; already focused on the transistion.
BBC News (UK)
Obama wins historic US election: Democratic Senator Barack Obama is elected the first black president of the US, prompting celebrations across the country as he promises that "change has come to America.
The Globe and Mail (Canada)
Obama pressed to fill top jobs: U.S. president-election Barack Obama has transition operation well under way to fill positions such as Treasury Secretary and Secretary of State
Al-Jazeera
Obama Sweeps to US Presidency: President-elect promises to bring about change after emphatic victory over John McCain.
New York Times
Obama Is Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls: Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive.
Daily Jang (Pakistan)
The time for change has come in America. (In Urdu: Amreeka mai tabdeelee ka wakht aa gaya hai).
El Nacional (Venezuela)
Chavez congratulates Obama for "historic victory" and hopes for the beginning of new relations with Washington. (In Spanish: Chávez felicita a Obama por "victoria histórica" y espera inicio de nuevas relaciones con Washington)
People's Daily Online (China; I think this newspaper is run by the CCP)
Obama wins U.S. Presidential elections (This was not the main headline... it was on the sidebar, and the main stories on the page were about China)