AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 659.

A DIVIDED DEMOCRACY

Of course, all nation states are divided, especially in terms of power and wealth, but also - to different extents - by gender, race, ethnicity, religion and other factors. Indeed the constitution and institutions of a democratic society are deliberately intended to provide for the expression and resolution of such divisions. However, it is often observed that the USA is an especially divided democracy in at least three respects:

It is divided vertically through the 'separation of powers', so that the executive, the legislature and the judiciary are quite distinct in terms of both powers and personalties.

It is divided horizontally through the federal system of government with the division of powers between the federal government and the state governments a very important issue that arguably was once the subject of a civil war.

It is divided politically through the sharp (and often bitter) differences of view on many social issues ranging from gun control to gay rights.

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.

One important version of "American exceptionalism" revolves around the lack of a clear ideological division between the two major political parties. The USA has never had a credible socialist or anti-capitalist party. Other versions of the concept revolve around the alleged superiority of the United States because of its history, size, wealth and global dominance. In perhaps its most extreme form, the concept has a religious dimension with the belief that God has especially chosen or blessed the country.