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The concept of american exceptionalism
The concept of american exceptionalism
The concept of american exceptionalism
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In this review essay on “The Post-American World” by Fareed Zakaria, he argues that the United States will have less control over the world and its destiny in the future than has been the case in the living memory of Americans, I will discuss why that is the case. In addition, I will explain why Zakaria does not see the issue in terms of American decline, but rather in terms of American success. Also, I will analyze how Americans need to revise their expectations in life, including their relationship to the global community in the 21st century. Lastly, I will discuss some recent events that demonstrate the validity of this idea. First, let me discuss why Zakaria argues that the United States will have less control over the world.
In the aftermath of the Spanish-American War the United States collected its first international territories; Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. United States exerted political, social, and economic control over countries such as the Philippines, Cuba, Germany, Austria, Korea, and Japan. One of the most notable examples of American Imperialism in this age was the Annexation of Hawaii in 1898, where the United States gained the control and possession of all ports, buildings, harbors, military equipment, and public property that had formerly belonged to the Government of the Hawaiian Islands. This eventually resulted in Hawaii becoming America's 50th state in 1959.
As Americans, we often pride ourselves on our strength. Our grandfathers survived the Great Depression and stormed the beaches of Normandy, and they did not complain. This refusal to retreat from a tough challenge is what makes us great as a nation. And as a result of our strength, we are natural leaders. As the world’s superpower, America has an obligation to lead the world in terms of ideas.
The rise of the United States to an international hegemonic position was accompanied by the conviction of its citizens to be part of a success story. This positive sentiment was consolidated as a national project based on values such as freedom, egalitarianism and "laissez-faire". The way of conceiving the country's position in the world was mediated by the notion of American exceptionalism based on its self-perception. Since the United States became a superpower with interests around the world, two issues were raised in its foreign policy. The first of them was how to prevent a politics of supremacy from becoming imperialism.
“United States.” American Imperialism During 1890-1914, 4th April, 2010 The United States wanted to build the Panama Canal was the reason of the involvement of the United States with Panama.
The premise most normally refered to for American exceptionalism is the possibility that the Unified States and its kin hold an uncommon place on the planet, by offering opportunity and seek after humankind, got from an extraordinary adjust of open and private interests administered by established goals that are centered around individual and monetary flexibility. Some Assembled States residents have utilized the term to claim moral prevalence for America or Americans. Others utilize it to allude to the American idea, or dream as itself an outstanding perfect. Americans can demonstrate this for other individuals and countries to reproduce and can help them with developing their own law based, free social orders.
In the 1930’s James Adams had stated the movement of the American dream which brought up the idea that America was a land of the free and success. Everyone who sought to come out to America was looking for new opportunities such as jobs and equality. Godfrey Hodgson who challenges the view of American Exceptionalism states that industrialization and urbanization had changed the exceptional America in the Post Civil War. Political scientist Seymour Martin Lipset believes that the United States is still the American dream and future image for other countries. America is exceptional because it leads the economical shift, The Old World societies, and social changes.
Americans, he declares, have a common set of beliefs while maintaining individuality, push for egalitarianism while resisting the pull of socialism, and use religion and foreign policy as weapons. This resource is relevant because it explores American exceptionalism as a key deciding factor--both for good and for evil--in our American heritage. This side-by-side cost/benefit analysis is useful in scrutinizing further not whether American exceptionalism--or a difference in American politics and culture from other those of other countries--exists, but rather if the assured existence of exceptionalism in history has been beneficial and if the continuance of exceptionalism in the future will continue in this
As time goes on it seems that more and more people within our country are losing their sense of American exceptionalism. I am here today typing away to hopefully convince you that we most certainly are, and have always been, exceptional. The most common misconception, as outlined in the “America isn’t the greatest anymore” speech from the show The Newsroom, is that in order for the US is the best, the epitome of the world, it must surpass every other country in every positive aspect. People want us to be on top and attempt to hold us to that standard when we obviously aren’t, all of the statistics from that speech are completely real.
The word ‘exceptional’ or ‘exceptionalism’ is normally used to connote a person or a thing that is above the ordinary, thus, extraordinary. The term ‘American Exceptionalism’ does not stray far from this ordinary connotation. It implies that the United States is a country like no other because of certain qualities that it possesses that is not found in others. This concept has its roots in French historian Alexis de Tocqueville’s observations of America. In the second volume of his book Democracy in America, de Tocqueville wrote “The position of the Americans is therefore quite exceptional, and it may be believed that no democratic people will ever be placed in a similar one” (de Tocqueville 518).
Another reason why America is exceptional is their very diverse population which gives birth to their different labels compared to other international nations. According to Sellevold, “If we disregard the comparatively minute number of Native Americans , the US is entirely made up of the historically recent descendants of European and Asian immigrants, the descendants of African slaves, and, even more recent, immigrants from central America and the Caribbean” (Sellevold). This particular mix, unseen in any other nation is the reason why there are many different terms for the same terms. Groups of people in states decide on which term to use, a term that fits the characteristics and people of the state instead of the one that fits international
American exceptionalism introduce the United States as free nation with individual liberty. America is exceptional because of the rights given to American people, great justice system. Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think that is given in constitution. Most important that I see is first amendment . It give us rights such as freedom of speech freedom of religion, freedom of press, but it mean different to people, people who are religious they have freedom of religion, I as a Muslim American can pray anywhere as long as it is not effecting anything around me.
What does it mean to be an American? At first, this seems to be a simple question, but the idea of being an American is viewed differently around the world. In the 2006 article “The Problem with American Exceptionalism,” most foreigners outside the United States have a negative opinion of Americans. This is because of a misunderstanding that Americans are very religious and nationalistic when it comes to foreign affairs. Another confusion about Americans is that we look down on others and force countries to adopt our beliefs.
The United States has always had an important role to play on the international stage. For the past one hundred years that role has been indispensible, American has been the determining player which has saved the world from Fascism, Communism, and now today’s battle with Islamic terrorism. American power and American leadership was, and is the only guarantor of peace, prosperity, and freedom throughout the world. In 1964 Ronald Reagan said that America is "…the last, best hope of man on earth." The concept of American exceptionalism isn't that America has a perfect government, perfect citizens, or perfect laws; the essence of American exceptionalism is that America is the only nation in the history of the world founded on, by, and for ideas and principles, as opposed to mere
While being the UN’s top contributor, the country has also done multiple military interventions. However, Trump’s “American first” philosophy declares America will step down from its role as the global leader and focus on domestic affairs, as demanded by a significant portion of the voting population in America. Fragmentation of coordinated global action, which had just been made possible due to globalization and the proliferation of the Internet, is inevitable. The election of 2016, which decided American policy shall be governed by Trump’s philosophy, is a turning point in world history, signifying the end of “Pax Americana” and the rise of an era with a new global leader (or none).
