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But can America's relations with the rest of the world really change, especially for the better? After eight years of Bush, most people can't avoid being optimistic. It can't get any worse, can it?

In another two months, the eight-year presidency of George W Bush, which inspired a genre of Bush-bashing and US-bashing books and films (remember Mike Moore's films, or feminist Naomi Wolf's book, "The End of America"), would come to an end.

One must, however, remain vigilant if not sceptical - even with Obama - for America has been rough for too long in dealing with other nations and people.

Can America, the world's sole super power, willingly give up its policy of "unilateralism" and forge more equal and less exploitative relations with the rest of the world?

In a way, it is the belief that America is exceptional, and a kind of promised land, that often leads to this arrogant unilateralist behaviour.

This is partly possible because many Americans firmly believe that America is "the greatest nation on Earth".

John McCain said his country is "the greatest nation on Earth" in his otherwise magnanimous concession speech, and Obama expressed himself similarly a few times during his marathon presidential campaign.

Yes, America is the world's biggest military power and still the world's biggest economy. It is arguable, however, whether it is the greatest nation as the yardstick for measuring the greatness of a person, or a nation, could vary. The French abandoned the belief that they are the most powerful nation long ago but some still think they're the best. But that's also debatable and one only need to ask the Chinese, Japanese or Israelis and others to see why.

 Nevertheless, it is this belief that America is the blessed land and the best and greatest nation on earth that allows it to justify its unilateralism and the feeling that it can be an exception to the rule. Some pragmatists may say it is America's size and might which compels it to self-servingly protect its interests and that no imperial power can afford to be totally benign.

Thus, while America reserves the right to install missiles in Poland, it considers a similar Russian action a threat and regards it as unacceptable. The Russians are not "good guys" like us Americans, they will say. It's also why the US, which is the biggest nuclear power, reserves the right to decide whether countries like Iran and North Korea should develop nuclear weapons or not. Well, they're part of the "axis of evil", aren't they?

 Exceptionalism and unilateralism is also why America, which is referred to by some as the United States of Excess and the world's biggest polluter does not even bother to join the Kyoto protocol. And it is America, which is an exception to the rule in many other arenas. It calls itself "the greatest democracy" and yet employs undemocratic organisations such as the CIA, which grossly disregard the laws of other nations.

Some hope that Obama will usher in a new era for America. Let citizens of the world hope so but remain vigilant - let us see if America can change, not just for themselves but the world too.

Though this writer got goose bumps listening to Barack Obama's historic speech on television after winning the presidential election last week, it must be noted that some of Obama's earlier words or ideas suggest a continuation of America's sense of exceptionalism and unilateralism. For example, he said during the campaign that if the Pakistan government is unwilling or unable to get rid of the Taleban, America will do it.

Many outside the US will want to see change that they can believe in - if not, Obama's honeymoon with the world may be over sooner than expected.