The End of American Exceptionalism?

Sunday

Dec132009

Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 5:24PM

Much has been made lately of the end of "American Exceptionalism." For the uninitiated, the basic idea is that after the second world war America rose to become the leader of the democratized world, then after the fall of the Soviet Union the world's lone super power, both militarily and economically. We effectively became the exception to the rules of economic and geopolitical gravity that bound all other nations.

Fast forward some 25 years and America is grappling with the idea that we will soon no longer be the world's biggest economy. Moreover, in the wake of the recent economic melt down we were shown just how dependent we are on the performance of other world economies to thrive. Soon the nations of China and India will have military power on par with our own.

So that means the end of American Exceptionalism, right? Maybe not immediately, but it's down the road. Not far in the distance, when our kids will speak mandarin and the US will struggle like the other empires of old just to maintain parity with the growing powers around the world. I mean what self-respecting greeny hasn't read Hot, Flat, and Crowded ?

Well let me tell you, the end of American Exceptionalism is still far far away. I've been to Milan and Japan twice each over the last 4 months. Do you know the Japanese favorite lunch spot? McDonalds. Know where I had coffee every morning? Starbucks. Know what hotel I stayed in? A Marriot. The Japanese carried iPhones and wore Abercrombie hoodies. My point is that American cultural influence around the world is as potent and powerful as ever.

American exceptionalism isn't born solely out of our military or economic might. It's born out of who we are as a people.

That's not to say we are better than any other nation or that we are entitled to bully or run the world as we see fit. It's to say that America is special in the world, not because of how we see it, but because of how the it sees us. We are exceptional because the world asks greatness of no other nation the way it does of ours.

The power of our ideas and the influence of our culture is inescapable and precious.

That is why it is the US that must lead the charge when it comes to launching the age of sustainability. American soft power can be a tremendous cause for good in the world. That's why I reject the idea that if the US reduces carbon emissions without China no good will come of it. There is a false choice being presented, a choice that presupposes China is the new center of gravity and if we cannot convince the Chinese environmentally responsibly action is not worth taking. I reject that. As the enduring political and cultural leaders of the world, the United States government and it's citizens (which are, remember, one and the same) is responsible for presenting the example for how a superpower behaves. This is not something to shy away from, it's not something to lament. It is to be embraced. For if we do, all of us from those in political office to those in board rooms, to those in small businesses all around this nation, there will be no end to American Exceptionalism, only an extension of true American ideals.

James Bedell |

13 Comments |

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Reader Comments (13)

Hi James - great post here. Fit some things I was thinking for a post I was working on for Aribra, worked your topic in there too:
http://aribra.com/crisis-sustainability-values-and-%E2%80%9Camerican-exceptionalism%E2%80%9D

December 16, 2009 |

Timothy R. Hughes

I agree with you that American Exceptionalism will reign for years to come, but I think it will rely on an internal renewal of American optimism, something David Brooks of NYT names our “eschatological faith in the future” in his excellent Nov. 16 article, “The Nation of Futurity”. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/opinion/17brooks.html?_r=1

I also agree that the U.S. can (and should) lead the charge in sustainability. In reality, such leadership may be necessary to make our economy strong again after years of excessive consumerism that relied too heavily on the tangible labors of other countries. However, I do not think that China, India and Russia are very interested in looking to the U.S. for examples on “how a superpower behaves”. Obama’s optimism and goodwill have been repeatedly, and, for some, surprisingly, rebuffed by these powers during his administration. American Exceptionalism can be prolonged in concert but also despite the contributions of other superpowers.

December 18, 2009 |

Chris S. Hammond

Gentlemen,

Thanks so much for the comments. I'm encouraging more discussion of this topic, so please share your thoughts with others. Thanks!

December 18, 2009 |

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