What should we understand by President Trump’s references to American exceptionalism
In his inauguration speech today, Donald trump used the word ‘exceptional’ quite deliberately as a reference to the notion of ‘American exceptionsalism’. But what does this term mean?
In my website guide to the American political system, I provide this explanation:
“Reading this short essay, it will be evident to many (especially non-American) readers that the United States is different from other democracies. This observation has given rise to the notion of “American exceptionalism”. This is an ill-defined term which has been used differently at different times.
From the creation of the Republic in 1776, there has been a sense that the United States has been exceptional in its commitment to freedom as expressed in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Even though today there are many challenges to freedom in the USA, many Americans still feel that their attachment to freedom – however defined – is a distinguishing feature of their nation as compared to all others.
Another important version of “American exceptionalism” revolves around the lack of a clear ideological or class-based division between the two major political parties. The USA has never had a credible socialist or anti-capitalist party; both the main parties are pro-capital and pro-business and speak largely to the ‘middle class’.
Other versions of the concept revolve around the alleged ‘superiority’ of the United States because of its history, size, wealth and global dominance plus the ‘sophistication’ of its constitution and power of its values such as individualism, innovation and entrepreneurship.
In perhaps its most extreme form, the concept has a religious dimension with the belief that God has especially chosen or blessed the country.
Of course, it is easy to view the American political system as exceptional in negative terms such as the unusual influence of race, religion and money as compared to other liberal democracies.
In truth, for all its special features, the American political system needs to be seen as one among many models of democracy with its own strengths and weaknesses that need to be assessed in comparison to those of other democracies.”
Trump also used the term ‘manifest destiny’ and several times referenced ‘God’ with the implication that such a supreme being specifically favours and supports the USA and even Trump personally. All these are dangerous and delusional concept that fly in the face of respect and equality for all nations and all peoples.