International Media Weigh in on Global Implications of US Elections

At a panel discussion hosted on October 21 by SIPA’s Technology, Media and Communications (TMaC) concentration, foreign correspondents from five continents shared their perspectives of the upcoming US presidential election. TMaC director Anya Schiffrin, a SIPA professor, opened the discussion by highlighting the intensity and complexity of American electoral coverage. 

The panel, moderated by SIPA professor Hagar Chemali MIA ’04, featured a diverse lineup of international journalists, including Dame Babou of the African Communications Network; Yingqian Chen of Phoenix Satellite Television; José Diaz-Briseño of Reforma and Mexico Today; Chris McGreal of The Guardian; and Misha Ketchell of The Conversation.

Since 2012, TMaC’s quadrennial election panel has fostered critical dialogue between international journalists and students.

Babou explained that for Senegalese audiences, the Israel-Gaza conflict significantly influences their view of the US election and American foreign policy. “What is happening in the Middle East is almost as important as what is happening in Senegal itself,” said Babou, noting how historical Arab influence in the region shapes these perspectives. 

Chen highlighted how Chinese audiences initially showed great interest in Donald Trump’s criminal cases but gradually became “bored” with these stories. She also noted the ongoing challenge of election-related disinformation in Chinese social media, particularly around the recent assassination attempts. 

“I always think that America has been judged by whether, not by the quality of its democracy, but by the person who’s in power, who’s in the White House,” said McGreal, who observed a concern among voters about democracy’s future, particularly after January 6 2021, and noted how the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision has become a major motivating factor for many voters.

Ketchell observed that the declining confidence in American democracy struck a particularly resonant chord. “[Francis] Fukuyama’s ’end of history’ does not look so strong anymore,” he noted, reflecting on how recent events have challenged long-held assumptions about the resilience of Western democracy.

A recurring theme was the challenge of covering policy substance versus political theater. “Are we as media equipped to do policy properly?” Ketchell asked, raising fundamental questions about journalism’s role in democracy. The journalists acknowledged that while policy articles are produced, they often struggle to attract readers who are more drawn to campaign drama and personality politics.

Chemali asked about how journalists explain the complex American electoral system to their home audiences and local perspectives on the US. Ketchell highlighted how Australians closely follow US politics while Americans know little about their system and how US political instability potentially affects critical Australian interests in the Pacific, what happens with China, what happens with Israel and Gaza. Chen discussed Chinese audiences puzzled by the US governmental efficiency and how policy changes between administrations raise questions about America’s global consistency and reliability. 

For Senegal, Babou noted the difficulties to fully convey American political issues to Senegalese audiences, as the two societies operate with fundamentally different values and historical contexts. 

As the 2024 election approaches, these international perspectives reveal the profound global implications of what happens on November 5.