Abstract
Barack Obama's election as the President of the United States of America hasn't occurred in an easy period: the country is currently in the midst of a global financial crisis, whilst also being bogged down in an arduous conflict in Iraq. Hence, several challenges are awaiting the President-Elect, in a world subject to rapid changes. The emergence of the "BRICs" (Brazil, Russia, India and China) as great powers and the persisting anti-Americanism throughout the world are shattering the established order, leading to the development of a different and parallel international system. Therefore, the major issue of Obama's mandate will be to take into account the changing balance of power; ?the "post-American world"' in order to restore the image of America in the eye of the world. Lessons from the past, which mainly prove that U.S. power is limited, can help Obama to deal with upcoming challenges.
