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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpg '''Exceptionalism''' is the perception that a country, society, institution, movement, or time period is "exceptional" (i.e., unusual or ex...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]]
'''Exceptionalism''' is the [[perception]] that a country, [[society]], institution, [[movement]], or time period is "exceptional" (i.e., unusual or extraordinary) in some way and thus does not conform to normal rules or general principles. Used in this sense, the term [[reflects]] a [[belief]] formed by lived [[experience]], [[ideology]], [[Frame of reference|perceptual frames]], or [[perspectives]] influenced by [[knowledge]] (or lack thereof) of historical or comparative circumstances.
==History==
The German romantic philosopher-historians, especially [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Gottfried_Herder Herder] (1744-1803) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Gottlieb_Fichte Fichte] (1762-1814), dwelt on the theme of [[uniqueness]] in the late [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 18th Century]. They de-emphasized the [[political]] [[state]] and instead emphasized the uniqueness of the ''Volk'', comprising the whole people, their [[languages]] and [[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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th-century 19th Century] European lands — especially ones ruled by élites from somewhere else.[1][2]
Many countries of all kinds, including the modern United States, Britain at the height of the British Empire, Imperial Japan, Iran, Venezuela, Israel, the USSR, France and Germany have claimed exceptionality. Historians have added many other cases, including historic empires such as Ancient [[Rome]], the Ottoman Empire and China, along with a wide range of minor kingdoms in [[history]].[3] In each case, proponents have presented a basis as to why the country is exceptional compared to other countries, drawing upon circumstance, [[Culture|cultural]] background and [[Milieu|mythos]], and self-perceived national aims.[4]
==Separateness==
Commentators often use the term "exceptionalism" to describe surprising developments in [[economic]] [[progress]], such as the economic growth of post-[[World War II]] Western Europe [1] or the ability of Sweden to generate small-[[business]] growth while yet maintaining high levels of taxation[5]
Exceptionalism can represent an error [[analogous]] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/historicism historicism] in assuming that only peculiarities are relevant to [[analysis]], while overlooking [[meaningful]] comparisons. "[W]hat is seemingly exceptional in one country may be found in other countries[6] As indigenous peoples explore their respective cultural heritages, their seeking to be separately classified or newly-understood may be a form of exceptionalism.[7][7]
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.
Groups likewise may be accused of exceptionalism, perhaps for avoiding normal terms of [[analysis]].[8] The term may be a marker for an implication that a point of view is widely misunderstood, such as the notion that Islamic jihad is misunderstood.[9]
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",[12][12] as is an assertion that a [[person]] or [[group]] refuses to acknowledge, and perhaps communally participate in, a widely-accepted principle or [[practice]].[13]
In editorial language, the term "exceptionalism" may be a marker for "the extent to which a region or group is justifiably or factually distinct."[14]
==See also==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism American Exceptionalism] (United States of America)
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_exceptionalism European Exceptionalism]
==Notes==
# Royal J. Schmidt, "Cultural Nationalism in Herder," Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 17, No. 3 (Jun., 1956), pp. 407-417 in JSTOR
# Hans Kohn, "The Paradox of Fichte's Nationalism," Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Jun., 1949), pp. 319-343 in JSTOR
# 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. 727-754 in Project Muse
# http://academic2.american.edu/~dfagel/Markets&democracyfukuyama.html
# http://www.stefangeens.com/000220.html
# http://www.japanesestudies.org.uk/discussionpapers/Matsuda.html
# a b http://www.english.upenn.edu/CFP/archive/2003-10/0254.html
# http://www.el-comandante.com/except.htm
# http://www.iiie.net/Articles/InterpretException.html
# http://www.thebody.com/hanssens/exceptionalism.html
# http://www.actupny.org/alert/Media-Irresponsibility.html
# http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20001101facomment932/peter-j-spiro/the-new-sovereigntists-american-exceptionalism-and-its-false-prophets.html
# http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/000053.html
# http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/05/16/stories/2002051600391000.htm
==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. 209-216
*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: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Volume 28, Number 2, August 2006, pp. 183-206.
[[Category: History]]
[[Category: Sociology]]
'''Exceptionalism''' is the [[perception]] that a country, [[society]], institution, [[movement]], or time period is "exceptional" (i.e., unusual or extraordinary) in some way and thus does not conform to normal rules or general principles. Used in this sense, the term [[reflects]] a [[belief]] formed by lived [[experience]], [[ideology]], [[Frame of reference|perceptual frames]], or [[perspectives]] influenced by [[knowledge]] (or lack thereof) of historical or comparative circumstances.
==History==
The German romantic philosopher-historians, especially [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Gottfried_Herder Herder] (1744-1803) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Gottlieb_Fichte Fichte] (1762-1814), dwelt on the theme of [[uniqueness]] in the late [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 18th Century]. They de-emphasized the [[political]] [[state]] and instead emphasized the uniqueness of the ''Volk'', comprising the whole people, their [[languages]] and [[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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th-century 19th Century] European lands — especially ones ruled by élites from somewhere else.[1][2]
Many countries of all kinds, including the modern United States, Britain at the height of the British Empire, Imperial Japan, Iran, Venezuela, Israel, the USSR, France and Germany have claimed exceptionality. Historians have added many other cases, including historic empires such as Ancient [[Rome]], the Ottoman Empire and China, along with a wide range of minor kingdoms in [[history]].[3] In each case, proponents have presented a basis as to why the country is exceptional compared to other countries, drawing upon circumstance, [[Culture|cultural]] background and [[Milieu|mythos]], and self-perceived national aims.[4]
==Separateness==
Commentators often use the term "exceptionalism" to describe surprising developments in [[economic]] [[progress]], such as the economic growth of post-[[World War II]] Western Europe [1] or the ability of Sweden to generate small-[[business]] growth while yet maintaining high levels of taxation[5]
Exceptionalism can represent an error [[analogous]] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/historicism historicism] in assuming that only peculiarities are relevant to [[analysis]], while overlooking [[meaningful]] comparisons. "[W]hat is seemingly exceptional in one country may be found in other countries[6] As indigenous peoples explore their respective cultural heritages, their seeking to be separately classified or newly-understood may be a form of exceptionalism.[7][7]
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.
Groups likewise may be accused of exceptionalism, perhaps for avoiding normal terms of [[analysis]].[8] The term may be a marker for an implication that a point of view is widely misunderstood, such as the notion that Islamic jihad is misunderstood.[9]
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",[12][12] as is an assertion that a [[person]] or [[group]] refuses to acknowledge, and perhaps communally participate in, a widely-accepted principle or [[practice]].[13]
In editorial language, the term "exceptionalism" may be a marker for "the extent to which a region or group is justifiably or factually distinct."[14]
==See also==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism American Exceptionalism] (United States of America)
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_exceptionalism European Exceptionalism]
==Notes==
# Royal J. Schmidt, "Cultural Nationalism in Herder," Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 17, No. 3 (Jun., 1956), pp. 407-417 in JSTOR
# Hans Kohn, "The Paradox of Fichte's Nationalism," Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Jun., 1949), pp. 319-343 in JSTOR
# 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. 727-754 in Project Muse
# http://academic2.american.edu/~dfagel/Markets&democracyfukuyama.html
# http://www.stefangeens.com/000220.html
# http://www.japanesestudies.org.uk/discussionpapers/Matsuda.html
# a b http://www.english.upenn.edu/CFP/archive/2003-10/0254.html
# http://www.el-comandante.com/except.htm
# http://www.iiie.net/Articles/InterpretException.html
# http://www.thebody.com/hanssens/exceptionalism.html
# http://www.actupny.org/alert/Media-Irresponsibility.html
# http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20001101facomment932/peter-j-spiro/the-new-sovereigntists-american-exceptionalism-and-its-false-prophets.html
# http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/000053.html
# http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/05/16/stories/2002051600391000.htm
==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. 209-216
*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: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Volume 28, Number 2, August 2006, pp. 183-206.
[[Category: History]]
[[Category: Sociology]]