The world is watching the US Presidential elections, and while it’s undeniably important for the rest of the world, the gap between the main candidates is much smaller than many think.
The US is more than one person who wins an election. It’s its institutions - a vast machine: the White House, Congress, Senate, Supreme Court, Pentagon, State Department, Treasury, Intelligence Services & more. The job of the machine stays the same, no matter who’s in charge.
The US system is designed to uphold a capitalist economy that primarily benefits big business: military, pharma, finance. For most people, the system offers little beyond crumbs.
The political parties - Blue and Red - institutionalise this system. One is more liberal, the other more conservative, but both ultimately serve the same capitalist machine. They’re like different “madhabs” within the same political creed. Whilst there maybe divisions at the extremes, the majority of the political class agree broadly on most things.
Whether it's “globalists” like Biden, Obama, or Clinton-or “nationalists” like Trump, the goal is the same: serving corporate America. They may represent different factions of corporate interests, but it’s ALWAYS corporate power that wins.
Trump, in his last term, was seen as less interventionist, launching fewer wars than his predecessors. But he still prioritised securing their occupation which they call “Israel” by normalising relations with Arab states—bypassing Palestinians entirely.
It is notable that Biden did not change this approach to the Middle East, nor to Trump’s approach to China. The policies may shift in rhetoric, but in substance they continue to serve the same powerful interests.
Within America, the democrats promote liberal social values almost universally. The Republicans, however, are a more mixed bunch - with some playing to their conservative Christian base and promoting ‘family values’, whilst others - like Liz Cheney - align with the Democrats.
Neither party is good for the ordinary people of America, nor the world - because both endorse the system.
Many will vote for Greens or Independents, but unless these movements conform, they won’t change the system. The political machine either transforms those who engage, or excludes them entirely. Wishful thinking does not change reality.
Regardless of who has been in the White House for the past decades, rulers in Muslim countries have danced to their tune. Red or Blue, it has made no difference - and all for the sake of US-Corporate Interests.
Abdul Wahid has been active in Muslim affairs in the UK for over 25 years. He has been published on the websites of Foreign Policy, Open Democracy, the Times Higher Educational Supplement, and Prospect Magazine. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AbdulWahid_X.