The extraordinary media hype surrounding the election of Barack Obama is reminiscent, Media Lens observes, of similar delusions following Tony Blair’s electoral victory in 1997. As with Blair, Obama’s election has been portrayed as a transformational change of ‘historic’ importance, despite the fact that Obama is a thoroughly mainstream, even hawkish, candidate.

Obama has demanded more war in Afghanistan and, in effect, an invasion of Pakistan. He is the American Blair, says John Pilger, and we should not be taken in.

Paul Mitchell reports on the recent “One World Week” of debates on international political topics, organised by students at the University of Sussex.