AAMERICAN MERICAN

EEXCEPTIONALISMXCEPTIONALISM? ? ?? ? ?

Our particular claim to greatness as a Our particular claim to greatness as a nation rests on the fact that we have nation rests on the fact that we have done without may elements that done without may elements that might be thought of as the marks of a might be thought of as the marks of a great people, among them the myth great people, among them the myth of origin.of origin.

Americans have been suckled by no Americans have been suckled by no wolf, sired by no Trojan fleeing Troy; wolf, sired by no Trojan fleeing Troy; they are not descended from the sun they are not descended from the sun or from the dragon’s teeth sown in or from the dragon’s teeth sown in the earth….the earth….

– Indeed, our greatness consists Indeed, our greatness consists precisely in the fact that we are precisely in the fact that we are making it up as we go along -- that making it up as we go along -- that we are perpetually in the process of we are perpetually in the process of devising ourselves as a people.devising ourselves as a people.

– Robert Pinsky, former Poet LaureteRobert Pinsky, former Poet Laurete

““All civilizations rest on myths,All civilizations rest on myths,

but in America myths have exceptionalbut in America myths have exceptional

meaning....meaning....

America is different. It is the only peaceful America is different. It is the only peaceful multi-racial civilization in the world”multi-racial civilization in the world”

- - Theodore White,Theodore White, journalistjournalist

AAMERICANMERICAN

EEXCEPTIONALISMXCEPTIONALISM

Myth...?Myth...? ....or ....or Reality...?Reality...?

SOME FACTORSSOME FACTORStoto

CONSIDER:CONSIDER:

America as aAmerica as a “NEW WORLD” “NEW WORLD”

UnanticipatedUnanticipated Huge, immenseHuge, immense Relatively unpopulatedRelatively unpopulated Comparatively “vacant”Comparatively “vacant” Resource richResource rich Unclaimed by existing political Unclaimed by existing political

powerspowers

What’s “What’s “NewNew”?”?

New New EnglandEngland

New New JerseyJersey

New New YorkYork

New New HampshireHampshire

and (new) and (new) PortlandPortland - -of of OregonOregon

MaineMaine

and Englandand England

An ABSENCE OF HISTORYAn ABSENCE OF HISTORY

No feudal traditions...No feudal traditions...

of landed aristocracyof landed aristocracy

.....or of fixed peasantry.....or of fixed peasantry

.....or of inherited statuses.....or of inherited statuses No incorporation of pre-European --No incorporation of pre-European --

i.e., indigenous--settlements into i.e., indigenous--settlements into American historyAmerican history

““Whereas Europe is a land with too Whereas Europe is a land with too much history and not enough much history and not enough geography, America has little geography, America has little history and plenty of geography.”history and plenty of geography.”

- - Daniel Boorstin & Aldous Daniel Boorstin & Aldous HuxleyHuxley

historian & historian & authorauthor

the SIGNIFICANCE OF the SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THE FRONTIERFRONTIER

Open landOpen land Continual expansionContinual expansion ““Verge” or Frontier mentalityVerge” or Frontier mentality Absence of lawsAbsence of laws Acceptance of violenceAcceptance of violence

“ “Every movement inward was a Every movement inward was a verge between the advanced verge between the advanced European civilization and the stone-European civilization and the stone-age culture of the American Indians, age culture of the American Indians, between people and wilderness.”between people and wilderness.”

- - Daniel Daniel Boorstin,Boorstin,

historianhistorian

Frontier CharacteristicsFrontier Characteristics(ala Frederick Jackson Turner)(ala Frederick Jackson Turner)

equalitarian individualistic freedom loving coarse restless inquisitive self-reliant optimistic materialistic nationalistic

the CENTRALITY OF IDEASthe CENTRALITY OF IDEAS

Founding documentsFounding documents– Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence– ConstitutionConstitution

Background of English EnlightenmentBackground of English Enlightenment Lincoln’s proposition of equalityLincoln’s proposition of equality The “great experiment” of democracyThe “great experiment” of democracy

“ “European nations are the products European nations are the products of history and not of philosophy. of history and not of philosophy. The United States, unlike any other The United States, unlike any other nation, has been built upon an nation, has been built upon an idea--the idea of liberty.”idea--the idea of liberty.”

- - Margaret Margaret

Thatcher,Thatcher, British Prime British Prime

MinisterMinister

The American CreedThe American Creed According to Seymour Martin LipsetAccording to Seymour Martin Lipset

contemporary sociologistcontemporary sociologist

- Liberty- Liberty

- Equalitarianism- Equalitarianism

- Individualism- Individualism

- Populism- Populism

- Lassiez-faire- Lassiez-faire

an “AUTOCTHONOUS”an “AUTOCTHONOUS” PEOPLEPEOPLE Self-createdSelf-created Coming from everywhere elseComing from everywhere else Many-culturedMany-cultured Rooted in neither time nor place Rooted in neither time nor place

nor history nor culturenor history nor culture– no “motherland” or “fatherland”no “motherland” or “fatherland”

Having a “Manifest Destiny”Having a “Manifest Destiny”

“ “America’s people come of such America’s people come of such diverse heritages of religion, tongue, diverse heritages of religion, tongue, habit, fatherhood, color and folk song habit, fatherhood, color and folk song that if America did not exist it would that if America did not exist it would be impossible to imagine that such a be impossible to imagine that such a gathering of alien strains could ever gathering of alien strains could ever behave like a nation.”behave like a nation.”

- - Theodore White,Theodore White, journalistjournalist

RELIGOUSLY MANDATEDRELIGOUSLY MANDATED

Being of the electBeing of the elect Selected for a larger destinySelected for a larger destiny Especially blessedEspecially blessed Having an extra-national moral Having an extra-national moral

responsiblity responsiblity

“ “We Americans are the peculiar, We Americans are the peculiar, chosen people--the Israel of our time; chosen people--the Israel of our time; we bear the ark of the liberties of the we bear the ark of the liberties of the world. God has predestined, mankind world. God has predestined, mankind expects, great things from our race; expects, great things from our race; and great things we feel in our souls.”and great things we feel in our souls.”

- - Herman Melville,Herman Melville, authorauthor

Popular MandatesPopular Mandates New England Puritans:New England Puritans:

– ““to establish the City upon the Hill”to establish the City upon the Hill” Joseph Smith:Joseph Smith:

– ““to found the promised Land of Zion”to found the promised Land of Zion” Woodrow Wilson:Woodrow Wilson:

– ““to make the world safe for democracy”to make the world safe for democracy” George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton:George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton:

– ““to establish a new world order”to establish a new world order”

HISTORICALLY “EXEMPT”HISTORICALLY “EXEMPT”

Since 1812 not invaded by a Since 1812 not invaded by a foreign power – foreign power – until 9/11/2001until 9/11/2001

No socialist worker political No socialist worker political traditiontradition

Without a state religionWithout a state religion Peacefully borderedPeacefully bordered

War DeadWar Dead

The WarThe War U.S. DeadU.S. Dead Total DeadTotal DeadCivil War Civil War 600,000600,000 600,000600,000Great WarGreat War 30,00030,000 9,000,0009,000,000WW IIWW II 300,000300,000 55,000,00055,000,000

English civilians aloneEnglish civilians alone 60,00060,000Viet NamViet Nam 60,00060,000 2,060,0002,060,000Iraq II &Iraq II &

Afghanistan*Afghanistan* 49224922 over 1,425,000over 1,425,000 U.S. wounded* U.S. wounded* 32,98732,987

**confirmed as of confirmed as of 2/24/20112/24/2011

the SOLE WORLD POWERthe SOLE WORLD POWER

Oldest republicOldest republic Oldest democracyOldest democracy Oldest written constitutionOldest written constitution Highest GNPHighest GNP 3rd wealthiest per capita3rd wealthiest per capita Strongest military in human historyStrongest military in human history

What is Our National What is Our National Interest?Interest?

““There is nothing in the national interest There is nothing in the national interest or in the American creed which or in the American creed which demands that we dominate the rest of demands that we dominate the rest of the world; but there is much in our the world; but there is much in our tradition and way of life which requires tradition and way of life which requires that we be the defender and promoter that we be the defender and promoter of the democratic cause on the world of the democratic cause on the world scene”scene”

- - W. W. Rostow,W. W. Rostow, economisteconomist

What is Our National What is Our National Interest?Interest?

““Only in a world where the powers Only in a world where the powers great and small enjoyed liberal great and small enjoyed liberal democratic institutions could there democratic institutions could there obtain the peaceful international obtain the peaceful international relations in which America could relations in which America could prosper in its own way of life.”prosper in its own way of life.”

- - Charles Charles Hershfield,Hershfield,

historianhistorian

This is Our National Policy:This is Our National Policy:

““History has called America and our History has called America and our allies to action, and it is both our allies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our privilege to responsibility and our privilege to fight freedom’s fight.”fight freedom’s fight.”

““We seek a just and peaceful world We seek a just and peaceful world beyond the war on terror…. Evil is beyond the war on terror…. Evil is real and must be opposed.”real and must be opposed.”

““In a single instant, we realized that In a single instant, we realized that this will be a decisive decade in the this will be a decisive decade in the history of liberty -- that we have history of liberty -- that we have been called to a unique role in been called to a unique role in human events.”human events.”

“ “ We have known freedom’s price. We We have known freedom’s price. We have shown freedom’s power. And have shown freedom’s power. And in the great conflict, my fellow in the great conflict, my fellow Americans, we will see freedom’s Americans, we will see freedom’s victory.”victory.”

- - George George W. Bush,W. Bush,

President President of the U.S.of the U.S.

The New “Bush Doctrine”The New “Bush Doctrine”

To provide a single sustainable To provide a single sustainable model for national success: freedom, model for national success: freedom, democracy, and free enterprise.democracy, and free enterprise.

To defend freedom of religion and To defend freedom of religion and conscience from encroachment by conscience from encroachment by repressive governments.repressive governments.

To engage in proactive counter-To engage in proactive counter-proliferation efforts.proliferation efforts.

New “Bush Doctrine” New “Bush Doctrine” continued...continued...

To exercise our right of self-To exercise our right of self-defense by acting preemptively.defense by acting preemptively.

To deter and defend against any To deter and defend against any threat before it is unleashed.threat before it is unleashed.

To maintain the capability to To maintain the capability to defeat any attempt by an enemy defeat any attempt by an enemy to impose its will on the U.S., our to impose its will on the U.S., our allies, or our friends.allies, or our friends.

New “Bush Doctrine” New “Bush Doctrine” continued...continued...

Our forces will be strong enough to Our forces will be strong enough to dissuade potential adversaries dissuade potential adversaries from pursuing a military buildup in from pursuing a military buildup in (their) hopes of surpassing, or (their) hopes of surpassing, or equaling, the power of the United equaling, the power of the United States.States.

Critique of the “Bush Critique of the “Bush Doctrine”Doctrine”

The development of a U.S.-The development of a U.S.-centered world view in which the centered world view in which the United States presumptively and United States presumptively and unilaterally pursues its objectives unilaterally pursues its objectives as it sees fit….as it sees fit….

Super Power as Role Super Power as Role Model…?Model…? Withdrew from the Kyoto Treaty on Withdrew from the Kyoto Treaty on

global warming, signed by 186 nations.global warming, signed by 186 nations. Refused to sign the Land Mines Ban Refused to sign the Land Mines Ban

Treaty, signed by 137 nations.Treaty, signed by 137 nations. Unilaterally withdrew from the ABM Unilaterally withdrew from the ABM

Treaty of 1973.Treaty of 1973. Refused to join the International Refused to join the International

Criminal Court.Criminal Court.

Abstained from the renewal of the Abstained from the renewal of the Outer Space Treaty.Outer Space Treaty.

Refused to ratify the Law of the Refused to ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty, accepted by 120 Sea Treaty, accepted by 120 nations.nations.

Rejected an agreement to enforce Rejected an agreement to enforce the 1972 International Biological the 1972 International Biological Weapons Convention, ratified by Weapons Convention, ratified by 413 countries.413 countries.

““If we have to use force, it is If we have to use force, it is because we are America. because we are America.

We are the indispensable nation. We are the indispensable nation.

We stand tall. We stand tall.

We see further into the future.”We see further into the future.”- - Madeline Albright,Madeline Albright,

former Secretary of former Secretary of StateState

AAMERICANMERICAN

EEXCEPTIONALISMXCEPTIONALISM

Myth...?Myth...?

....or ....or Reality...?Reality...?