Kerry – Finding a Job in an Era of Contraction

Secretary of State John Kerry faces the same challenges as Hillary Clinton – finding something to do in an administration that likes to direct foreign policy from the White House and has a constrained view of America’s foreign policy agenda and its capacity to effect change.

The foreign policy agenda took about two minutes in the President’s inaugural address, and mostly referenced getting out of foreign military entanglements, support for alliances and multilateral organizations, and a nod to democracy.

Probably Kerry was most pleased by the President’s mention of the threat of climate change.  After four years of little forward movement in the face of the bad economy, most of the developed world’s leaders will appreciate the aspiration, even if they aren’t likely to do much in the face of their continuing recessions.

Climate change is a touchstone issue for Democratic leaders, and recent polls show it as a weak priority for the rank and file, and it is of even less political concern to the public at large. It ranks last in a list of 20 priorities people want the President and Congress to focus on in a January Pew survey. Only 28 percent of Americans rank it a priority.

Kerry begins his term with considerable good will, but low expectations. Four years ago, Hillary Clinton dealt with the early stage of the global slowdown, reinforcing a White House that was interested in reducing military engagement and focusing on domestic politics.

She made travel her mode and focused on groups and causes that tend to be missed in normal State Department policy with its emphasis on national security and business her cause. Women’s and children’s issues, food and health initiatives, small village and household economic development projects were her signature activities.

See:
Pew Research:  Deficit reductions rises on public’s agenda for Obama’s second term
President Obama’s 2013 inaugural address