| ID | 107605 |
| Title Proper | Exceptionalism in American foreign policy |
| Other Title Information | is it exceptional? |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Holsti, K J |
| Publication | 2011. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article argues that exceptionalism is a type of foreign policy not exclusive to the United States. It examines other historical cases, including post-Revolutionary France and the Soviet Union. The three cases are comparable in terms of their main characteristics, which include claims of exemptions from the ordinary rules of international relations, messianic missions to 'liberate' others, and perceptions of universalized threats. The article also explores the historical and normative foundations of exceptionalist foreign policy claims and practices. All three cases demonstrate the assumptions of social and political superiority that underlie these normative bases. The article concludes with some observations about the incompatibility of exceptionalist foreign policies with the Westphalian foundations of the international order. |
| `In' analytical Note | European Journal of International Relations Vol. 17, No. 3; Sep 2011: p.381-404 |
| Journal Source | European Journal of International Relations Vol. 17, No. 3; Sep 2011: p.381-404 |
| Key Words | Exceptionalism ; National Myth ; Post - Revolutionary France ; Soviet Union ; United States |