Obama's Nobel Honors His Dignitarian Politics

Some will say that Barack Obama's Nobel Prize is premature. "What has he done?" they'll ask.

Obama got the prize not for doing, but for being. Not for making peace, but for exemplifying something new on the world stage -- the politics of dignity.

The Nobel Committee has simply made explicit what many have sensed. President Obama is the herald of a dignitarian politics. Not libertarian, not egalitarian, but dignitarian.

Dignitarian politics represents a modern synthesis of libertarian and egalitarian politics. War between these two battle-scarred, now exhausted ideologies shaped both national and international politics throughout the twentieth century. Obama is the first politician of world stature to identify and model an alternative that can meet the challenges of the twenty-first. Awarding Obama the Nobel Prize is an expression of the hope that our best chance for world peace lies in the dignitarian politics of which he is an exemplar.

What is dignitarian politics? It is the recognition that people the world over actually want dignity more than they want either liberty or equality. In policy terms, it means ensuring dignity for all -- within and among nations.

Obama's dignitarianism manifests in his inclusiveness, his style, and his manners. Domestically, dignitarian politics supersedes identity politics to embrace blacks and whites, men and women, gays and straights, young and old, rich and poor, immigrants and the native-born. The president has also made a point of reaching out to those who disagree with him both domestically and internationally.

The Nobel Prize will put pressure on President Obama to make explicit his reasoning for what has been, up till now, a largely instinctive pursuit of the politics of dignity. Dignitarian politics means not condescending to Americans or citizens of other countries. It means not treating political opponents, whether at home or abroad, with indignity. It also means extending dignity in concrete ways, both political and economic, throughout the world. In programmatic terms, the quest for dignity is usefully conceived of as overcoming rankism -- the abuse of a power advantage to demean, hold at a disadvantage, or dehumanize those with less power.

Globally, Obama's politics of dignity makes Americans safer, in contrast to policies that, by humiliating others, leave us vulnerable to retaliation. Indignities make people indignant and so predispose them to side with our enemies, if not turn against us themselves. President Obama understands that part of a strong defense is not giving offense in the first place. He realizes that in an interdependent world, muscular exceptionalism is a losing strategy.

Dignitarian politics has a host of immediate, practical consequences for international affairs. If President Obama is seen as reacting defensively to indignities served up by his opponents, he will appear weak. But if he goes on the offensive, not against those opponents themselves, but rather in favor of an emergent politics of dignity, at which he is a natural, he will prevail. Awarding President Obama the Peace Prize is a bet on the Nobel Committee's part that the honor will support him in implementing the politics of dignity that he heralds.

Follow Robert Fuller on Twitter: www.twitter.com/robertwfuller

Comments

[UKOH]

Just saying "the Islamic Republic of Iran" rather than "Iran is part of the axis of evil" goes a LONG way to get listened to in the region.

I lived in the Middle East for several years; there is nothing more important to the Arab psyche than being treated with respect. It comes down to generations of Westerners treating them as a bunch of camel herders. Arabs get REALLY p___d off when Westerners - as so many do - buy their robes of national dress to use at fancy dress parties.

Yes, by treating all people everywhere with respect Obama will go a long way to achieve world peace objectives and this is the basis of the Nobel Piece prize.

[flow555]

It is all about RESPECT isn't is?

And it is the pursuit of human dignity that has been the underlying fuel for so many civil and human rights movements.

This is such a simple idea, but one seemingly lost on those folks who think the path to power is command and control. Respect must be earned they proclaim. Its a vicious and ultimately unsustainable cycle -- for those who only "respect" bullies and therefore rationalize their own bullying behavior.

This worldview is so terribly flawed because it fails to consider the consequnces of depriving people of basic human dignity. Eventually, the spirit is moved to declare "Enough!" and ordinary folks are moved to do extraordinary things -- like not getting up from their seat on a bus, or refusing to yield in the face of a trampling tank.

History is full of examples of major transforming social, economic or political movements being launched by a single soul -- not planned or premeditated -- but rather, in the face of injustice -- an expression bubbles up from the depths of one human being -- from the part that knows we are all the same -- all equal -- all connected. And when this part finds words -- it may as simple as "Enough!" and it is a most powerful expression.

[Jay Lewis]

There was much reaction to the awarding of the Nobel Peace prize to Barrack Obama; distilled to a few emotional salts, I would say that "shocked" is one of the most common.

The committee's general reaction to Obama could also be described as one of being "shocked."

Shocked, I think, that a president could come along after decades of America's bullying imperialism and, from the gate, talk in terms of civility, diplomacy, and fair representation.

Too, it was on the heels of America's recent, most spirited imperialis­m--conduct­ed with the air of a fresh fascist superiority and hubris-ridden entitlemen­t--conduct­ed under the philosophy of opportunistic plundering loosely referred to as Neoconism.

The award might well be considered a symbol of the huge sigh expelled by most of the civilized world.

[KiwisCanFly]

Eloquent, Mr Robert Fuller.

[discussant]

The author says, "What is dignitarian politics? It is the recognition that people the world over actually want dignity more than they want either liberty or equality. In policy terms, it means ensuring dignity for all -- within and among nations." I have to say that I agree with the author-- these are the reasons why his predecessor got very unpopular-- he had neither his own dignity or he was a dignitarian. One becomes dignified by giving dignity to others-- Obama style. But the other guy wanted to dignify himself by demeaning others. Obama is not a dignitarian president by choice, it's his fundamental belief-- the theory of negotiation starts with dignity of compromise. Let's look to the second quote from the author.

"Obama's dignitarianism manifests in his inclusiveness, his style, and his manners. Domestically, dignitarian politics supersedes identity politics to embrace blacks and whites, men and women, gays and straights, young and old, rich and poor, immigrants and the native-born. The president has also made a point of reaching out to those who disagree with him both domestically and internationally." Agreed. So why not, as an overarching gesture, embrace Israel and Palestine, equally-- why is our preference toward Israel, unconditionally? Why should we support Israel and be an enemy of Iran. Why should we support Karzai (the corrupt) and Musharraf and fight with their local population as we did in Iraq.

Let the dignitarian style of Obama prevail-- It's the best hope after cowboy supremacy.

[Bailey Reynolds]

I have never seen a politician be as gracious as President Obama is. It's truly humbling; and truly reminiscent of the teachings of Christ. Turn the other cheek, for example. There have been times when Obama has been so unjustly attacked, I have yearned to see him come back at his opponents with brass knuckles, Chicago-style; and yet, he takes the higher road. Always.

President Obama is one of the greatest examples of a leader I have ever had the pleasure of watching. God willing, I believe he will become one of the greatest presidents we have ever had. As for the Nobel Prize, I wish we could all come together as Americans and be proud that we finally have such a worthy leader, that is recognized and embraced as such, by the world community. We all share in this blessing.

[Outsideadog]

Three responses I've enjoyed...

1. White House press staffer: "Better to have accolades tossed your way rather than shoes".

2. Huffpost comment: "Yay! America lost the Olympic bid! Boooo! The President won the Nobel Prize! Something seems a little off in right winger land."

3. John "the angriest Neocon" Bolton: "There was Carter in 2002, Al Gore in 2005...and now Barack Obama in 2009..." ------> ***head explodes***

[bobtry]

Just wondering? Was the captain of the Titanic dignified as the ship went down?

[PhilipB]

So beautifully expressed, President Fuller.
You inspire me.

[MosesMa]

What an insightful analysis! Thank you for sharing this perspective with us. From this perspective, you can see how fundamentally disrespectful the reactions of Limbaugh, Erickson, et alia have been. Clearly, the transformative politics of President Obama seeks to transcend racism and fundamentalism, driving deep into the fundamental roots of human dignity.

[Aaira]

Thought provoking. Thank you

[TucsonKK]

All through the campaign he spoke of peace and reaching out with open hands even to our enemies.
I always felt something very special when listening to OB, his ability to see a peacefull world one of respect and caring and sharing. A world without fear or hate, without hunger and poverty, and without war. Obama is truly the leader that we needed to guide us into a new world. He has reached out to the REPS. many times and still does only to be shut down with hatefull name calling.
Yes he deserves this prize as he is truly a Peace Giver. 8 years of lies, hate and war I am so ready for World Peace with all Nations. Today I am proud to be American and so very proud of Barock Obama.
World peace, climate change, clean energy, health care reform(public option) where new jobs await.
REPS. shove it!!!!!

[EricArthurBlair]

If results were all that counted...

Woodrow WIlson got the award for the League of Nation, which failed.

Desmond Tutu got the award for fighting apartheid, which went on for another ten years.

Tenzin Gyatso got the award for working for human rights in Tibet, which still has problems.

Aung San Suu Kyi got the award for her work in Burma; last time I looked, the place was still calling itself Myanmar.

Sadat & Begin and Arafat & Rabin got the award for working for peace in the Middle East.

Need I say more?

[yamaniyama]

It takes a certain kind of person to understand why he was awarded the prize. It takes someone who can see his soul. Obama is a great soul, an old soul, who fundamentally understands what is needed to create a world of peace. However, on the level of form, he is up against huge challenges and hurdles that will take nothing short of a miracle to overcome. A miracle that involves a huge shift in mass consciousness. So, as Obama said, this is a call to action for all of us. Especially the action of healing our individual hearts and minds (e.g. beginning a meditation practice) so we can transcend the human/ego drama and see and embrace the vision he holds for all of humanity.

[chlai88]

"Obama got the prize not for doing, but for being."

How true. I think another source of his strength comes from being able to transcend differences, to see beyond what divides and to seek creative workarounds to break down these walls. Our instinctive revulsion against our enemies always blind us to only choose to see the bad instead of our common interests. But he is also not so naive as to get carried away by idealism. I think this makes him uniquely positioned to be a peacemaker and a mediator.