Is the United States an exceptional nation? And what exactly do we mean by American Exceptionalism? In this video, part of my American Politics in Comparative Perspective series, I explore the various meanings of American exceptionalism.
Indeed. When one reflects on the United States' record, during the past 25 years or so, everything that has damaged Western civilisation - arguably to the point of no return - was concocted, connived at, nurtured and exported by the United States of America. Today, the US is a basket case: cultural decadence, rampant murder, mass shootings; mass incarceration, rapacious greed and worship of money, for-profit healthcare, societal degradation through their celebrity culture, racial division fomented by the Left and the American Academy, public vulgarity, mass mental illness, mass medication of entire families, identity politics, BLM, critical race theory and corporate-speak BS bingo. Add to that the US has a geriatric, corrupt political class combined with an infantilised population raised a diet of Disney, Doritos and the Kardashians. The tragedy for the rest of the West is that the US persists in exporting this ordure far beyond its shores.
Walt is certainly right that American exceptionalism can serve as a blinder for the American people -- it makes them see things through a uniquely American lens, and makes it difficult for them to understand why the rest of the world does not see the US the way many Americans see it. But as a Japanese of the post-war generation, I also see the positive side of American exceptionalism. The high-minded vision and the unswerving belief in progress that guided the American architects of the post-WWII international order -- I don't think that would have been possible unless US leaders of that generation firmly believed in America's uniqueness and its mission to transform the world in its own image. Sure, there was a strong dose of arrogance, self-righteousness, and even racism intertwined with American exceptionalism. But they just prove that Americans are just as susceptible as other peoples to all-too-common human failings. In this sense, there is no American exceptionalism. But the belief in the exceptional quality of America as a nation, long prepared in the course of US history, allowed the US to rise to the challenge of global leadership in the second half of the 20C. Now Pew research shows that this exceptionalism is declining, especially among young Americans. This is understandable, given the social woes and the debility of the political system in the US in the recent past. Does this mean that Americans have now decided that US is "just another country on this planet"? Will there ever be a revival of the lofty ideals of the American founding?
Great insights. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The Pew research is interesting, and it does seem like younger Americans are moving in the direction you outline. It will be interesting to see how this trend continues to develop. Thanks for watching!
But as a Japanese of the Post-war generation, I also see the positive side of American exceptionalism - Of course, you do. They have owned you ever since Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "The high-minded vision" - yes, dropping atomic bombs and then civilizing the world according to their own ideals and controlling nations through International institutions they created while fighting countless unnecessary wars in the middle east (for OIL) and supporting an apartheid state and...... Yes, GREATNESS ACHIEVED. Good day.
Every empire is exceptional- at the time, at least in their own eyes- the confidence of being in ascendancy, leads to arrogance, which results in its decline. since Babylon and possibly earlier
Great video. I guess then that most states see themselves as exceptional, unique etc. Can this belief influence a supranational organisation to act in an exceptionalism way. For example, NATO is comprised of some states with long histories, who used to be regional or even global powers (UK, France, Turkey & US) to name a few?.
It's definitely going to be interesting to watch Brazil's role in mediating the conflict in Ukraine. They may well be best position to serve in that role!
