America’s legacy as the “land of opportunity” has recently been symbolically reclaimed. Barack Obama’s election shows that in America, political opportunity is within reach for minorities – holding up a mirror to Europe and Turkey. In reshaping more sustainable futures in answer to the global economic crisis, we should be equally concerned with generating legitimate leadership and inclusive access to political power. There is room for reforms and changes in the political landscapes of America, Europe and Turkey. Equal access for political leaders from diverse ethnic, ideological, class and gender backgrounds is a key challenge for democratic countries in the 21st century.