exceptionalism
We're inherently different
Exceptionalism is the belief that a particular nation, group, or entity is fundamentally different from others and exempt from ordinary rules or historical patterns.
Most often applied to nations: American exceptionalism holds that the United States occupies a unique position in world history.
The term usually carries critical undertones, suggesting the belief is self-serving or delusional: Their corporate exceptionalism led them to ignore regulations everyone else followed.
Devotion to one's homeland
- AmericanismUS-specific word or phrase
- jingoismBellicose extreme patriotism
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
- chauvinismMilitant devotion to group
national identity · manifest destiny · national character · self-determination · sovereignty · ethnocentrism · protectionism · isolationism
Obvious, inescapable fate
- Monroe DoctrineAnti-colonial foreign policy stance
- Truman DoctrinePolicy opposing communist expansion
- Bush DoctrinePost-9/11 foreign policy stance
- American DreamUS ethos of opportunity
interventionism · unilateralism · hegemony · imperialism · colonialism · soft power · hard power · domino theory
Highest rank or power
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- preeminenceSuperior status above others
- eliteSuperior select group
- excellenceOutstanding quality or merit
transcendence · chosenness · peerlessness · incomparability · distinction · prestige · greatness · ascendancy
Belief one's culture superior
- hubrisRuinous excessive confidence
- arroganceExcessive self-importance
- myopiaBlurry distance vision
- hypocrisyPretense of virtue
double standard · blind spot · self-righteousness · smugness · complacency · insularity · provincialism · tunnel vision
Prolonged public disagreement
- criticismJudgment of faults
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
dissent · contestation · challenge · rebuttal · counterargument · skepticism · revisionism · deconstruction
Quality of being distinguishable
- singularityPoint where values explode
- anomalyDeparture from the expected
- peculiarityUnusual distinguishing characteristic
- specialnessQuality of being exceptional
originality · divergence · aberration · outlier · particularity · individuality · uncommonness · differentiation
patriotism
Devotion to one's homeland
- AmericanismUS-specific word or phrase
- jingoismBellicose extreme patriotism
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
chauvinism · national identity · manifest destiny · national character · self-determination · sovereignty · ethnocentrism · protectionism · isolationism · expansionism
manifest destiny
Obvious, inescapable fate
- Monroe DoctrineAnti-colonial foreign policy stance
- Truman DoctrinePolicy opposing communist expansion
- Bush DoctrinePost-9/11 foreign policy stance
American Dream · interventionism · unilateralism · hegemony · imperialism · colonialism · soft power · hard power · domino theory · containment
supremacy
Highest rank or power
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- preeminenceSuperior status above others
- eliteSuperior select group
excellence · transcendence · chosenness · peerlessness · incomparability · distinction · prestige · greatness · ascendancy · primacy
ethnocentrism
Belief one's culture superior
hypocrisy · double standard · blind spot · self-righteousness · smugness · complacency · insularity · provincialism · tunnel vision · willful ignorance
controversy
Prolonged public disagreement
scrutiny · dissent · contestation · challenge · rebuttal · counterargument · skepticism · revisionism · deconstruction · questioning
distinctiveness
Quality of being distinguishable
- singularityPoint where values explode
- anomalyDeparture from the expected
- peculiarityUnusual distinguishing characteristic
specialness · originality · divergence · aberration · outlier · particularity · individuality · uncommonness · differentiation · deviation
- American IdeasAmerican Dream, transcendentalism, manifest destiny, self-reliance, rugged individualism
- national mythsfounding myth, founding myths, national origin, origin story, origin stories
- Political Quotesall men are created equal, Gettysburg Address, Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, nothing to fear
- AmericanaAmerican flag, Fourth of July, bald eagle, Thanksgiving, apple pie
- US HistoryAmerican Revolution, US history, Civil War, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln
- US Politicsconservatism, ballot, liberalism, bill, constitutionalism
exceptionalismordinariness
State of being unremarkable
normalcy · typicality · averageness · commonness · mediocrity
exceptionalismegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
universalism · equal treatment · rule of law · impartiality · non-discrimination
exceptionalismuniversalism
Doctrine of total reconciliation
cosmopolitanism · internationalism · globalism · multilateralism · humanism
- human exceptionalism
- American exceptionalismBelief U.S. is uniquely virtuous
except, exception, exceptional, exceptionally, excepting, excepted, unexceptional, exceptions, excerpts