The world is celebrating Barack Obama, the new President of the United States of America. Young, educated, with a multicultural, multiracial and cosmopolitan background, Obama provides new prestige to America’s image and to that of western liberal democracy. The Arab world has reacted enthusiastically, but is waiting to see the new White House resident in action. “Will he be with us or against us?”, wonder Palestinians and Israelis. In theory with neither, and this gives us hope. The task awaiting Obama is arduous, but the man does not lack audacity and hope. Will he also inspire change far from America? Even in China?