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Exceptionalism

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For other uses, see Overwhelming exception.

Exceptionalism is the perception or belief that a species, country, society, institution, movement, individual, or time period is "exceptional" (i.e., unusual or extraordinary). The term carries the implication, whether or not specified, that the referent is superior in some way.[citation needed]

Although the idea appears to have developed with respect to an era, today it is particularly applied with respect to particular nations or regions.[citation needed]

Other uses of the term include medical and genetic exceptionalism.[citation needed]

History

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Further information: Historic recurrence

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 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.[1][2]

Claims of exceptionality have been made for many countries, including the United States, Australia (especially in South Australia[3]),[4] China, France, Germany, Greece,[5] Pakistan, Imperial Japan, Iran, Serbia, Israel, North Korea, South Africa,[6][7] Spain, the UK, the USSR, Thailand[8][9] and Lebanon.[10] 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.[11]

Criticism

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Belief in exceptionalism can represent erroneous thought analogous to historicism in that it overemphasizes peculiarities in an analysis and ignores or downplays meaningful comparisons.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] This can be an example of special pleading, a form of spurious argumentation that ignores relevant bases for meaningful comparisons.[citation needed] Exceptionalism is often based on poor historical knowledge.[12]

Separateness

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J. Bradford DeLong has used the term "exceptionalism" to describe the economic growth of post-World War II Western Europe.[13]

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."[14]

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.[citation needed]

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".[15]

Medical exceptionalism

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Use of the term "HIV exceptionalism" implies that AIDS is a contagious disease that is or should be treated differently from other contagions[16] or entails benefits not available to those suffering from other diseases.[17][18]

See also

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Instances of exceptionalism:

Related terms:

Notes

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  1. ^ Royal J. Schmidt, "Cultural Nationalism in Herder", Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 17, No. 3 (June 1956), pp. 407–17 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 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". www.humanrights.gov.au. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  5. ^ (jwehner@wehnerweb.com), wehnerj. "Questioning Greek Exceptionalism". www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  6. ^ Dlakavu, Simamkele (24 October 2013). "South Africa IS in 'Africa' - Daily Maverick". Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  7. ^ Raymond Padya, Journalism Editor (October 29, 2013). "South Africa's Worrying Exceptionalism". Iziko Live. Durban University of Technology. Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ Georg Nolte and Helmut Philipp Aust (2013). "European exceptionalism?" (PDF). Global Constitutionalism. 2 (3): 407–436. doi:10.1017/S2045381713000038. hdl:10419/66220. S2CID 232178437.
  9. ^ du même auteur (2011-01-01). "Becoming Exceptional? American and European Exceptionalism and their Critics: A Review". Cairn.info. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  10. ^ Mikdashi, Maya (2022). Sextarianism. Sovereignty, Secularism, and the State in Lebanon. Stanford University Press. p. 117-152. ISBN 9781503631564.
  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 in Project Muse
  12. ^ 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/
  13. ^ DeLong, J. Bradford (September 1997). "Post-WWII Western European Exceptionalism: The Economic Dimension". Berkeley: University of California. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  14. ^ Matsuda, Noritada (13 August 2003). "Exceptionalism in Political Science: Japanese Politics, US Politics, and Supposed International Norms". Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  15. ^ Park, Jeanne (November 2000). "The New Sovereigntists: American Exceptionalism and Its False Prophets". Foreign Affairs (November/December 2000). Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  16. ^ Hanssens, Catherine (Lambda Legal) (Winter 1997–1998). "Inventing "AIDS Exceptionalism"". TheBody.com. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  17. ^ Sheryl Gay Stolberg (12 November 1997). "New Challenge to Idea That 'AIDS Is Special'". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  18. ^ United States Congress (25 October 2010). Congressional Record, V. 152, Pt. 16, September 29 2006. United States Government Publishing Office. p. 539. ISBN 978-0-16-086781-1.

References

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  • 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.

Further reading

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