Exceptionalism

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.

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

Other uses of the term include medical and genetic exceptionalism.

History of the phenomenon

Exceptionalism can be understood as an asymmetrical form of identity construction that functions via a claimed distinction from others (see also: schismogenesis). In the national context it is profoundly linked to nationalism and can legitimize a certain form of foreign policy.

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, Italy, 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. The recurrence of this structure of exceptional ingroup and inferior outgroups can be found across space and time and different contexts (both national and other), so that "when we replace the names, the asymmetrical opposition of Hellenes or Romans to the "barbarians" repeats itself structurally across the epochs. The opposition that may be found in church language of "laos" [Greek for people] versus "ethne" [Greek for gentiles] ("populus" / "plebs" versus "gentes" / "pagani") acquires its sense only because it distinguishes Christians from pagans."

Critical use of the term

Belief in exceptionalism can represent erroneous thought analogous to historicism in that it overemphasizes peculiarities in an analysis and ignores or downplays meaningful comparisons. 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. Exceptionalism is often based on poor historical knowledge.

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.