American Exceptionalism
Essays

Racial, economic, and social elitism in 19th century America

Does the Concept Conflict with Sovereignty?

There has been much scholarly debate as to the notion of superpowers; whether the United States will remain the lone superpower, whether the United States is in a state of decline as a superpower, and what countries, if any, will emerge as the next superpower. Some leading economists, financial advisors, and scholars argue that China and India are in line to become the next superpowers because of their increasing economic growth. But is that enough to overtake and/or even replace the United States at the top? This paper will provide historic definition as to what constitutes a superpower as well as a comprehensive review of the United States, China and India as the "leading contenders" for superpower status.

United States has become preoccupied with the internal affairs at the expense of the foreign affairs after the civil war. It started interfering in overseas conflicts and interacting with the World after the diplomatic…

This paper reviews the existing literature on the topic of consumer attitudes toward reducing CO2 emissions. The broad topic is multifaceted, with implications in areas such as consumer lifestyle, economic policy, the media, and how which the public is educated about global warming and the need to reduce CO2 emissions.

The development of the first atomic bomb represents a reference point in recent American history. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have given rise to numerous controversies as to the development and use of this…

Geopolitics is a theory that can be applied to countries throughout the world. Over the last few years America's foreign policy strategies have been called into question. For the purposes of this discussion is to…

Turner's work on the significance of the frontier in American history is perhaps one of the most complex anthropological attempts to define and analyze the American people. The center of his theory focuses on the way…

Washington Rules: America's Path to Permanent War Washington rules: America's path to permanent war is an indictment of the Washington consensus that positions the U.S. as the World's Big Brother and Policeman. Commencing with the Truman Administration, Bacevich traces the birth, development and maintenance of the Washington consensus built on a credo in which the United States alone must "lead, save, liberate, and ultimately transform the world," along with the "trinity" of global military presence, global power projection and global interventionism. Based on these two elements of credo and trinity, along with the complacency of the American people, the United States has spread its military might around the globe in a so-called "flexible response" thrusting us "into a condition approximating perpetual war" that is costing the country dearly in human and nonhuman resources. Bacevich then suggests solutions in the form of a new credo in which the United States becomes a model of the ideals set forth in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence. He also suggests a new trinity in which America shifts from: a large professional military constantly prepared for war to more of a citizen-warrior force; use of our military for world domination to use of the military for defense and vital interests only; global occupation to withdrawal from areas in which the cost clearly outweighs the benefit. Bacevich's book is widely praised, though problems have been noted. Though chiefly praising Bacevich's book, Gary J. Bass takes issue with: at least one of Bacevich's severe analogies between our policymakers and possibly Hitler; Bacevich's exclusion of examples in which American leaders and the American public acted against the foregone conclusion of the Washington consensus. Gerard De Groot also praises Bacevich's book but believes that Bacevich's belief that the American public can change the current situation is too optimistic. In addition to the criticisms posed by Bass and De Groot, it appears that Bacevich's suggestion of eliminating our large, well-armed professional military is an invitation to a disaster that we were fortunate to miss during World War II. Finally, Bacevich's suggestion of defense-only and vital interest-only use of our military raises significant issues about what constitutes "defense" and "vital interest," as well as the important issue of who will decide what constitutes "defense" and "vital interest." In sum, Bacevich's book raises important perspectives and historical examples that compel the reader to examine and challenge the current Washington consensus; however, the book is also somewhat flawed and/or incomplete.

In what ways did the events of 9/11 and the measures taken as a result of the tragedy affect the way in which America viewed itself in terms of its own might, its ability to secure its own citizens and detect new kinds…