How will the US prez race unfold?

On June 12, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced that the United States, one of the five permanent members of the United Nations, will rejoin the agency in July, four years after its exit from the agency.

There’s no dearth of news reports featuring the United States, the global economic powerhouse and the sole superpower, on any given day. From the Russia-Ukraine war to strained relations with China and increasing bonhomie with India, the United States seems to be present everywhere around the globe. This is because the present world order is primarily US-led.

While the US is not a member of regional blocs like the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), or the European Union (EU), it wields significant influence in these groupings. As one of the five permanent members of the UN, the US has a vital role in effective functioning of the world body. Its re-entry into UNESCO should be read in this context.

Despite the absence of direct physical connectivity, the US is like a neighbor for countries like Nepal. This feeling perhaps arises due to America’s contribution to Nepal’s development in areas such as education, healthcare and infrastructure. The influence of several powerful nations remains limited to their respective regions. They have yet to extend their reach globally. 

Such is not the case with the United States. 

The 2024 US presidential election has also captured the attention, particularly of the democratic world. While American citizens will be electing their president, their mandate will impact the whole world and Nepal will not remain immune from this. As the United States advocates for the law, democracy and human rights, many nations take it as an exemplary nation.

It is for this very reason that the United States draws global attention. With the presidential election not that far away, global attention toward America has only increased.  

Eyeing the most powerful position in the world, the Republican Party is already in the fray. Around a dozen politicians from the party have launched their campaigns seeking nomination. Among the candidates is the former President Donald Trump, who has faced multiple sexual abuse, fraud, and defamation cases.

The Democratic Party is not lagging behind, either. Currently, it has three leading contenders for the presidential nomination, including the incumbent Joe Biden. Speculation has also arisen regarding Biden’s age, health, and his effectiveness as President.

For a large number of people around the world, especially those concerned about democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the US presidential election is a kind of festival. As a practicing lawyer and a student of human rights and democracy, I will be watching the election with immense interest.

A member of the Supreme Court Bar, the author has been practicing corporate law for three decades