Listening to President Obama: A Short examination of Obama’s communication practices

Abstract

This article brings three divergent fields of expertise together to take a closer look at President Barack H. Obama’s first 2 years in office. From a theoretical perspective, the changes in the understanding of communication and their impacts on international affairs are discussed. From a domestic politics perspective, Obama’s policy making and practices for communicating these policies to the public are assessed. Obama’s record in responding to the demands and challenges of the 21st century are introduced from a foreign politics standpoint. It is now known that the promises given and the practices employed during the election campaigns encourage government transparency, open communication, and grassroots movements. The authors argue that it is up to the Obama presidency to fulfill the expectations of not only American citizens but also of the global public and address current issues through the aforementioned practices.