America’s America’s Exceptionalism Exceptionalism

Sophie Lockyer 08101196~

DefinitionDefinitionThe term “American exceptionalism” is used to describe the belief that the United States occupies a special position in history and on the global stage by virtue of certain characteristics held to be unique to the United States. This belief has undergone a number of incarnations since it developed in the 1800s, and there are both supporters and critics of American exceptionalism. Since it plays a role in political thought in the United States, understanding exceptionalism and the roots behind the idea is important for people interested in history and politics.

Wisegeek.com

U.S Government and International Affairs

Anti-Americanism ‘Dangerously nationalist’ country?America In The World website (London)

introduced as counter-effect

Conspiracy & Suspicion September 11 & War on TerrorAllies & Enemies… Britain & Middle East

International BusinessInternational Business Corporate Social Responsibility

Boycott of large American consumer brands

e.g. Iraq War affected Coca-Cola, McDonalds & Marlboro

e.g. Esso (ExxonMobil) & Kyoto Protocol

Influence of American political scene (through media coverage)

Global GovernanceGlobal Governance“The world’s biggest complaint about the US

is that Washington too often acts unilaterally, without concern for the interest of others.” Kohut & Stokes (2006)

Partnership & relations with the UN

The American’s ViewThe American’s View Misunderstood The City on a Hill Syndrome New Sovereignty – Anti-Internationalisation

Ruggie (2003) – “American exceptionalism: a perceived need to safeguard the special features and protections of the U.S. constitution from external interference. And it also taps into a core element of American identity: ours is a civic nationalism, defined by the institutions and practices that bind us, not by blood and soil, and none is more foundational than the constitution itself”

• Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay• and a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and

prohibited the use of torture.• Appointed Special Envoys for Climate Change, Southwest Asia, the

Middle East, Sudan, and a Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

• Announced a plan to responsibly end the War in Iraq.• Announced a new strategy for Pakistan and Afghanistan.• Announced a strategy to address the international nuclear threat.• Agreed to negotiation of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty

with Russia.• Established a new "U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue”.• Announced new policy steps towards Cuba.

– THE WHITE HOUSE, January 22, 2009

Foreign Policy – Current Obama Progress

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SummarySummaryGenerally relatively negative

perceptions – strong anti-Americanism

US tendencies to not conform with international regimes pose problems and further support criticisms of American ‘superiority’ attitude

Complex area with little hard evidence

ReferencesWhat is American exceptionalism? (2009)Ian Tyrrell - Blog for Wordpresshttp://iantyrrell.wordpress.com/papers-and-comments/

American Exceptionalism : A Double Edged Sword (1996)Seymour Martin Lipset – Washington Post articlehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/americanexceptionalism.htm

Why US exceptionalism is not exceptional (2010)Michael Goldfarb – BBC article onlinehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12052320

ReferencesReferences

The New Sovereigntists (2000)Spiro, Peter J. – Academic Articlehttp://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?hid=110&sid=4bbe925f-5979-4d93-b488-ac265cb9d52c%40sessionmgr114&vid=1&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=buh&AN=3668196

Globalisation, the New US Exceptionalism and the War on Terror (2006)Robert G Patman – Academic articlehttp://web.ebscohost.com/bsi/detail?hid=113&sid=38eb3b74-58e7-46cd-ac47-2b9c48daad28%40sessionmgr110&vid=5&bdata=JnNpdGU9YnNpLWxpdmU%3d#db=buh&AN=22306648

Website - www.AmericaInTheWorld.com

Washington’s Exceptionalism and the United Nations (2004)

Paul Heinbecker – Academic articlehttp://web.ebscohost.com/bsi/pdf?hid=113&sid=d79368a6-

8d3c-4ad5-ab66-776a37cf1dd5%40sessionmgr115&vid=7

American Exceptionalism, Exemptionalism and Global Governance (2003)

John Gerard Ruggie – Academic articlehttp://www.drworley.org/NSPcommon/Ruggie

%20american_exceptionalism.pdf

The Problem of American Exceptionalism (2006)Andrew Kohut & Bruce Stokes – Pew Research Centre articlehttp://pewresearch.org/pubs/23/the-problem-of-american-

exceptionalism