American exceptionalism
U.S. special destiny
American exceptionalism is the belief that the United States occupies a special place among nations—whether through its founding principles, its history, or divine favor.
Proponents see America as uniquely positioned to lead or serve as a model for the world: American exceptionalism shaped our foreign policy for generations.
Critics use the term to describe a self-congratulatory nationalism blind to the country's failures.
Obvious, inescapable fate
- free marketCommerce without state intervention
- individualismDoctrine of personal independence
- liberalismPhilosophy valuing reform, tolerance
- conservatismPreference for existing institutions
neoconservatism · civic virtue · pluralism · melting pot · Monroe Doctrine · self-determination · bootstraps · rugged individualism
Influence through appeal
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
- foreign policyInternational relations strategy
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
- leadershipAbility to direct others
Marshall Plan · NATO · dollar diplomacy · democratization · peacekeeping · foreign aid · sanctions · trade agreements
Superior status above others
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- superpowerDominant nation or magical ability
- world leaderNational chief executive
first among equals · unipolar · primacy · ascendancy · economic power · innovation · leader of the free world
Formal argument on issues
- hubrisRuinous excessive confidence
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
- chauvinismMilitant devotion to group
unilateralism · interventionism · hegemony · jingoism · hypocrisy · colonialism · arrogance · double standard
Cloth symbol or signal
- anthemOfficial song of praise
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- ConstitutionGoverning principles document
founding fathers · independence · stars and stripes · bald eagle · Uncle Sam · citizenship · civic duty · memorial
manifest destiny
Obvious, inescapable fate
- free marketCommerce without state intervention
- individualismDoctrine of personal independence
- liberalismPhilosophy valuing reform, tolerance
conservatism · neoconservatism · civic virtue · pluralism · melting pot · Monroe Doctrine · self-determination · bootstraps · rugged individualism · Protestant work ethic
soft power
Influence through appeal
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
- foreign policyInternational relations strategy
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
leadership · Marshall Plan · NATO · dollar diplomacy · democratization · peacekeeping · foreign aid · sanctions · trade agreements · World Bank
preeminence
Superior status above others
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- superpowerDominant nation or magical ability
world leader · first among equals · unipolar · primacy · ascendancy · economic power · innovation · leader of the free world
debate
Formal argument on issues
- hubrisRuinous excessive confidence
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
chauvinism · unilateralism · interventionism · hegemony · jingoism · hypocrisy · colonialism · arrogance · double standard · cultural imperialism
flag
Cloth symbol or signal
Constitution · founding fathers · independence · stars and stripes · bald eagle · Uncle Sam · citizenship · civic duty · memorial · Fourth of July
- American HegemonyMonroe Doctrine, manifest destiny, territorial expansion, interventionism, regime change
- American Ideastranscendentalism, manifest destiny, self-reliance, rugged individualism, Puritanism
- conservatismconservative, traditionalism, fiscal conservative, small government, free enterprise
- national mythsfounding myth, founding myths, national origin, origin story, origin stories
- Neoconservatismneocons, interventionism, regime change, preemptive war, Bush Doctrine
- American folklorePaul Bunyan, tall tales, folk heroes, John Henry, folk narratives
American exceptionalismmultilateralism
Multi-party international cooperation
non-interventionism · anti-imperialism · isolationism · realpolitik
American, exceptionalism, America, Americas, Americanism, Americanize, Americanization, exception, exceptional