The 2016 election has proven to be one of the most unexpected and divided elections
in recent history.
But outside of the United States, there seems to be less of a divide over the two candidates,
and more of a surprise at the overall state of affairs in the United States.
So we reached out around the world to find out, what exactly do non-Americans think of
the 2016 Election?
Well, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are generally seen as controversial, but for
a wide majority of the world, Trump is the center of their focus.
Trump’s popularity has been a bit of a shock, so much so that for many, the frontrunner,
Clinton, is at the back of their minds.
In the UK, Clinton has also been repeatedly compared to Margaret Thatcher, who was famously
and widely disliked but considered a strong and decisive leader.
Similar comparisons have been made in Germany as well, which currently has a center-right
leaning female leader.
An election week poll found that 86% of Germans would sooner vote for Clinton compared to
just 4% for Trump.
Notably, the potential election of a female president has not been seen as ‘groundbreaking’
outside of the US, where female leaders have become ubiquitous.
Nonetheless, in more socially progressive countries like France, Clinton’s appeal
stands out, especially in light of Trump.
Across the Pacific, those living in Mexico, are no less willing to hide their disdain,
than Trump has been willing to make inflammatory comments about their country.
One Mexican academic compared the fear of Latinos in the US to the fear of communism
in the 1950s, predicting a “brown panic” brought on by Trump’s rhetoric.
As for Clinton, many in Mexico clearly prefer her to the alternative, with one law student
telling the LA Times, “She’s an intelligent woman and knows Mexico, and it appears that
she supports immigration.”
But people from other countries, particularly in the Middle East, don’t seem altogether
excited about a Clinton presidency.
A report in June by the Washington Post showed that Egyptians seem less concerned with who
becomes president, and expect the result to be roughly the same for them: negative.
Not far away, Iranians similarly seems guarded, especially in light of the recent nuclear
deal.
Interestingly, many Israelis have shown support for Trump, although the common thread of “anyone
who supports Israel” seems more important than the candidates themselves.
Trump, as a Republican, is more likely to unconditionally support Israel, while there
are some fears of Clinton continuing the US’s allied but critical stance, despite her overall
support.
The biggest difference between the US and the rest of the world seems to be the level
of shock surrounding Trump’s success.
One German academic wrote, “Trump’s unstoppable rise is seen mostly as a symptom of a distinctly
American disease.
In no other democracy in the world, it is said, could voters be so openly motivated
by greed, show so little concern for less-privileged fellow citizens and be so politically ignorant.”
Nonetheless, while Clinton is the preferred choice, she is not without criticism by the
rest of the world.
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