A new reality comes to the fore.

• Jurisdiction: Australia
• Author: Hinkson, John
• Date: 01 January 2001

If the task of the Bush Administration is to forge policy that differentiates it from its predecessor, George W. Bush has achieved his goal. Certainly at first glance his defence and environmental policies could hardly strike a stronger contrast with those of Clinton. No doubt in part related to an extremely rapid deterioration in the economy, but also a more aggressive approach to world affairs, the ambience of the Bush Administration seems a world away from the easy policies and ecstatic excess of the last four years of Clinton. With this mixture of changed circumstance and hard resolve to avoid 'soft options', Bush seeks to set a new agenda for the first decade of globalization in the twenty-first century.

'No-nonsense' is the name of the game. Environmental protection will not be allowed to threaten economic prosperity. "Rogue" states will be prevented from challenging the proper role of a superpower that, after all, acts only in the global interest. Here is the pragmatic politician putting realpolitik back into policy in contrast to the media-driven strategies of Bill...