Discussion » Questions » Politics » American exceptionalism - was a term I had never even heard of until a few days ago.. I'd be interested to hear what your experiences are?
Adaydreambeliever

American exceptionalism - was a term I had never even heard of until a few days ago.. I'd be interested to hear what your experiences are?

In trying to understand what it's all about I stumbled across this link which I am happy to share - please feel free to comment..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39133677

Posted - May 1, 2017
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Responses


  • 5614
    French political scientist and historian Alexis de Tocqueville was the first writer to describe the country as "exceptional" in 1831 and 1840. He is indeed correct. This post was edited by O-uknow at May 1, 2017 10:12 PM MDT
      May 1, 2017 6:41 AM MDT
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  • 6477
    Well, in your opinion my sweet and we do accept that it's your and many other American's belief.. that is not in question I assure you .. that you believe it, we know.  

    The subject is a very complex one. .regarding what it's based on, whether it's based on correct or otherwise information, whether relevant things have been overlooked and forgotten... etc..

    That Americans generally speaking believe they are unique as in an example to others and better than others, world leaders etc... is not in question either... I have been studying, (informally) Americans since 1994 and in the course of my studies have communicated with many hundreds of Americans.. so I was well aware of the phenomenon and the sensitivities surrounding this belief.. I had no idea, I confess, that it had an actual term.. American Exceptionalism. And I have you to thank for that knowledge.. so thank you.. the phenomenon has long been fascinating to me, along with the predilection for conspiracy theories. 

    It's origins may be in doubt but it's presence is not.  I read that it is connected to communism. 

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2013/09/27/american_exceptionalism_neither_joseph_stalin_nor_alexis_de_tocqueville.html

    Wikipedia, a source I never like to quote unless forced to do so agree's with your assertion that it was coined by a Frenchman.. 
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism


    I found this link quite fascinating on the topic
    http://foreignpolicy.com/2012/06/18/american-exceptionalism-a-short-history/

    In truth.. almost every nation is exceptional, and unique...that's based on logic.. the factors that go in to making a nation are likely to be very different from any other.. for instance.. we Brits have been invaded many times, conquered and then we did some conquering and invading of our own.. the result is a populace that's got a mix of European and other cultures.. many French, viking and ooh don't forget the Romans.. but the but the result is a weird and wonderful mix... Now America has that and it's own factors and events.. that makes you exceptional.. The CHinese are exceptional, the RUssians are...  I think the bone of contention is more to do with the more erm questionable aspects of the belief.
      May 1, 2017 7:07 AM MDT
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  • 13277
    The term's been around since the 1830s - correctly attributed by O-uknow to Alexis de Tocqueville - and you just heard of it now? Wow. Actually, British colonists as early as 1630 compared the place to the biblical "city upon a hill."

    Similar beliefs have existed elsewhere in the world, such as Whig history in Britain, which held that the political system of the British Empire was the apex of human development and uniquely suited to ruling foreign peoples benignly.

    My father, who was born in 1928 and came of age during and after WWII, and many in his generation and those who came before and after were firm believers in the concept.

    Here's more from Wikipedia, a source you have issues with for reasons known only to you:

    In 1989, Scottish political scientist Richard Rose noted that most American historians endorse exceptionalism. He suggests that these historians reason as follows:

    America marches to a different drummer. Its uniqueness is explained by any or all of a variety of reasons: history, size, geography, political institutions, and culture. Explanations of the growth of government in Europe are not expected to fit American experience, and vice versa.


      May 1, 2017 9:56 PM MDT
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  • 5614
    Thanks, you have much more patience than I.
      May 1, 2017 10:16 PM MDT
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