Change in the White House?: Comparing the Presidencies of George W Bush & Barack Obama

In April 2012, Hofstra University hosted a symposium comparing the presidencies of George W Bush and Barack Obama. In the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama promised major departures from the Bush administration’s approach to political negotiations and policies. But in the White House, several, though certainly not all, of Obama’s actions have suggested more continuity than change with his predecessor. What is the Bush (43) Presidency’s legacy in American politics and the world? How has that legacy shaped the policies of President Obama? This assessment of both presidencies provides a timely discussion of their leadership successes and challenges in the White House, with attention to immediate results as well as long-term effects. This book presents the symposium findings, with updates that incorporate the 2012 elections and the start of Obama’s second term. The first part examines each president’s ability to mobilise public support and exercise political leadership, both within his own political party and more broadly. The second part compares foreign policy in the two administrations, focusing on Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. Contributors include experts on the American presidency, executive-legislative policy making, and U.S. foreign policy.