Big Think

Parag Khanna: That’s a really big difficult question. I don’t think it begins or it ends with who becomes the next president of the United States. America has to be a lot more. And who is in the White House for us, remains outstanding.

It has to be about America’s foot print in the world; in the influence of American society; is renewal.

We define American influence overseas as not just where our military is, but where our business are investing, where our philanthropists are providing assistance, and where our social entrepreneurs are training people to fend for themselves and build their own businesses, where the peace squad is active.

If we define Americas influence overseas in that way, if it’s about Bill Gates, and not just about George W. Bush, then we can see some real progress in the way America has perceived in the world.

Recorded on: 3/3/2008