Exceptionalism

History

The German romantic philosopher-historians, especially Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803) and Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762–1814), dwelt on the theme of uniqueness in the late 18th century. They de-emphasized the political state and instead emphasized the uniqueness of the Volk, comprising the whole people, their languages, and their traditions. Each nation, considered as a cultural entity with its own distinctive history, possessed a "national spirit", or "soul of the people" (in German: Volksgeist). This idea had a strong influence in the growth of nationalism in 19th-century European lands—especially in ones ruled by élites from somewhere else.

Claims of exceptionality have been made for many countries, including the United States, Australia (especially in South Australia), China, France, Germany, Greece, Pakistan, Imperial Japan, Iran, Serbia, Israel, North Korea, South Africa, Spain, the UK, the USSR, Thailand and Lebanon. Historians have added many other cases, including historic empires such as China, the Ottoman Empire, ancient Rome, and ancient India, along with a wide range of minor kingdoms in history.

Criticism

Belief in exceptionalism can represent erroneous thought analogous to historicism in that it overemphasizes peculiarities in an analysis and ignores or downplays meaningful comparisons. A group may assert exceptionalism in order to exaggerate the appearance of difference, to invoke a wider latitude of action, and to avoid recognition of similarities that would reduce perceived justifications. This can be an example of special pleading, a form of spurious argumentation that ignores relevant bases for meaningful comparisons. Exceptionalism is often based on poor historical knowledge.

Separateness

J. Bradford DeLong has used the term "exceptionalism" to describe the economic growth of post-World War II Western Europe.

Exceptionalism can represent an error analogous to historicism in assuming that only peculiarities are relevant to analysis, while overlooking meaningful comparisons. Political scientist Noritada Matsuda writes, "[W]hat is seemingly exceptional in one country may be found in other countries."

In ideologically-driven debates, a group may assert exceptionalism, with or without the term, in order to exaggerate the appearance of difference, perhaps to create an atmosphere permissive of a wider latitude of action, and to avoid recognition of similarities that would reduce perceived justifications. If unwarranted, this represents an example of special pleading, a form of spurious argumentation that ignores relevant bases for meaningful comparison.

The term "exceptionalism" can imply criticism of a tendency to remain separate from others. For example, the reluctance of the United States government to join various international treaties is sometimes called "exceptionalist".

Medical exceptionalism

Use of the term "HIV exceptionalism" implies that AIDS is a contagious disease that is or should be treated differently from other contagions or entails benefits not available to those suffering from other diseases.

Notes

References

• George M. Fredrickson. "From Exceptionalism to Variability: Recent Developments in Cross-National Comparative History", Journal of American History, Vol. 82, No. 2 (Sep., 1995), pp. 587–604 in JSTOR
• Gallant, Thomas W. "Greek Exceptionalism and Contemporary Historiography: New Pitfalls and Old Debates", Journal of Modern Greek Studies, Volume 15, Number 2, October 1997, pp. 209–16
• Michael Kammen, "The Problem of American Exceptionalism: A Reconsideration", American Quarterly, Vol. 45, No. 1 (Mar., 1993), pp. 1–43 in JSTOR
• Seymour Martin Lipset, American Exceptionalism: A Double-Edged Sword (1996)
• Lund, Joshua. "Barbarian Theorizing and the Limits of Latin American Exceptionalism", Cultural Critique, 47, Winter 2001, pp. 54–90 in Project Muse
• Pei, Minxin. "The Puzzle of East Asian Exceptionalism", Journal of Democracy, Volume 5, Number 4, October 1994, pp. 90–103
• Thompson, Eric C. "Singaporean Exceptionalism and Its Implications for ASEAN Regionalism", Contemporary Southeast Asia, Volume 28, Number 2, August 2006, pp. 183–206.

References

1. Royal J. Schmidt, "Cultural Nationalism in Herder", ''Journal of the History of Ideas'', Vol. 17, No. 3 (June 1956), pp. 407–17 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2707552 in JSTOR]
2. Hans Kohn, "The Paradox of Fichte's Nationalism", ''Journal of the History of Ideas'', Vol. 10, No. 3 (June 1949), pp. 319–43 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2707040 in JSTOR]
3. C. J. Coventry, "A New Birth of Freedom: South Australia, slavery and exceptionalism", Speech to History Council of South Australia (HCSA) (2020), https://hcommons.org/deposits/item/hc:33351/
4. "Speeches".
5. (jwehner@wehnerweb.com), wehnerj. "Questioning Greek Exceptionalism".
6. Dlakavu, Simamkele. (24 October 2013). "South Africa IS in 'Africa' - Daily Maverick".
7. Raymond Padya. (October 29, 2013). "South Africa's Worrying Exceptionalism". [[Durban University of Technology]].
8. [[Georg Nolte]] and Helmut Philipp Aust. (2013). "European exceptionalism?". Global Constitutionalism.
9. du même auteur. (2011-01-01). "Becoming Exceptional? American and European Exceptionalism and their Critics: A Review". Cairn.info.
10. (2022). "Sextarianism. Sovereignty, Secularism, and the State in Lebanon". Stanford University Press.
11. See Christopher K. Chase-Dunn, Thomas D. Hall, and E. Susan Manning, "Rise and Fall: East-West Synchronicity and Indic Exceptionalism Reexamined", ''Social Science History'', Volume 24, Number 4, Winter 2000, pp. 727–54 [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/social_science_history/v024/24.4chase-dunn.html in Project Muse]
12. (2019-03-01). "Comparative Exceptionalism: Universality and Particularity in Foreign Policy Discourses". International Studies Review.
13. C. J. Coventry, "A New Birth of Freedom: South Australia, slavery and exceptionalism", Speech to History Council of South Australia (HCSA) (2020), https://hcommons.org/deposits/item/hc:33351/
14. (September 1997). "Post-WWII Western European Exceptionalism: The Economic Dimension". [[University of California]].
15. Matsuda , Noritada. (13 August 2003). "Exceptionalism in Political Science: Japanese Politics, US Politics, and Supposed International Norms". Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies.
16. Park, Jeanne. (November 2000). "The New Sovereigntists: American Exceptionalism and Its False Prophets". Foreign Affairs.
17. Hanssens, Catherine ([[Lambda Legal]]). (Winter 1997–1998). "Inventing "AIDS Exceptionalism"". TheBody.com.
18. (12 November 1997). "New Challenge to Idea That 'AIDS Is Special'". [[The New York Times]].
19. [[United States Congress]]. (25 October 2010). "Congressional Record, V. 152, Pt. 16, September 29 2006". [[United States Government Publishing Office]].