The Myth of American Exceptionalism

Godfrey Hodgson argues that the American belief in being destined to spread democracy and capitalism globally is harmful to both the United States and the world. He contends that America is not as exceptional as it perceives itself to be, and that ignorance of its own history has fostered complacent nationalism and damaging foreign policy that has separated it from the international community. Hodgson traces how America's self-regard developed from the early republic to today, showing how exceptionalism has been systematically overstated and, in recent decades, distorted. While America's history and political philosophy contain distinct and original elements, Hodgson argues these have always been more substantially shaped by European thought and experience than Americans typically acknowledge. This book examines how America's belief in its exceptionalism has led it to make poor decisions.