‘Unilateral’ power the world over faces limits

BARACK Obama is trying to fight the threat of Islamist terror in the Middle East and wants to use US military strength “unilaterally” to do so. But the most powerful man on Earth is facing the same problems as Western democratic leaders around the world — Western disease.

The US President, perhaps more than others, faces the enervating challenge of modern democ­racies: a constitutional gridlock, a rule of populist opinion and an opportunistic and power hungry opposition.

Obama wants to confront Islamic State on the ground in Iraq and Syria, he recognises the global threat and, perhaps belatedly, wants to act decisively. Yet, such is the position of modern democratic political cycles, he is a lame duck leader. Perhaps he was even a lame duck before he was elected.

In broaching the subject of deeper engagement against Islamic State, the President has had to couch his approach in terms of an “appeal” to the Republican-controlled congress.

In Europe, the US, Asia and Australia, government leaders without clear majorities in both houses of parliament are being hogtied by public opinion and opportunistic opposition. Whether it is military action, which could affect Australia, or economic reform, which is definitely affecting Australia, minority governments, lame-duck leaders and obstructionist upper houses controlled by opposition or protest parties are being hamstrung.

Public opinion, shaped by populism, is undermining efforts to take hard decisions or unpopular or controversial military steps.

Obama has made it plain — Tony Abbott is suffering from the same disease.