SEYMOUR MARTIN LIPSET: AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM

Introduction

• American Exceptionalism:
  • Described as a double-edged sword.
  • Discusses the unique characteristics of American society and politics.

Copyright Information

• Published: 1996
• W.W. Norton & Company
• ISBN: 0-393-03725-8

Chapter 1: Ideology, Politics, and Deviance

• Foundational Ideology of the U.S.:
  • Nation born out of revolution and organized around a distinct ideology.
  • Americanism recognized as an "ism" akin to communism, fascism, and liberalism.
• Key Definition:
  • G. K. Chesterton noted that America is founded on a creed articulated in the Declaration of Independence.
• Core Values in American Ideology:
  • Liberty
  • Egalitarianism
  • Individualism
  • Populism
  • Laissez-faire
• American Creed:
  • Contextualized as the liberalism of the 18th and 19th centuries,
  • Different from:
  • Conservative Toryism.
  • Statist communitarianism.
  • Mercantilism.
  • Noblesse oblige from monarchical cultures.

Comparison with European National Identity

• European nationality is historical, based on common ancestry and culture.
• Churchill’s 1940 speech highlighted that being "un-English" or un-Swedish is not achievable.
• To be American:
  • Based on ideological commitment rather than birth.
  • Those rejecting American values termed "un-American."

Shift from Noble Hierarchies to Individual Values

• The American Revolution weakened traditional hierarchical values tied to nobility and strengthened individualism and egalitarianism.
• Evidence from H.G. Wells's observations on American politics:
  • Lack of a viable socialist party.
  • Absence of a British Tory party equivalent.
  • Dominance of middle-class values.
• Essence of American politics:
  • Representing a middle-class, individualistic focus.

Comparative Evaluations of Societies

• Important to note that comparisons between societies are relative.
• American egalitarianism doesn’t imply all are equal by strict definitions.
• Highest degrees of egalitarian values can be relative in context:
  • Example Assessment (Scale of 0 to 100):
  • U.S. close to 0, Britain at 100, Canada at 30 depending on traits.
• American Exceptionalism Inquiry:
  • Questions the absence of a strong socialist movement in industrialized U.S.
  • Analyzed by figures such as Friedrich Engels and Werner Sombart.

Unique Characteristics of American Society

• Historical Framework:
  • Roots of American uniqueness found in foundational speeches and writings from figures like Edmund Burke and Hector St. John Crevecœur.
• Tocqueville's "Democracy in America":
  • Emphasized American individualism versus European group ties.
• Commonwealth Comparisons:
  • Literature comparing the U.S. to Canada is productive due to cultural proximity.
  • Addresses concepts of community and economy shared between nations.
• Discussion of Latin America’s political landscape in contrast to North America; ties weak class-based socialist movements to cultural dynamics in both regions.

Liberalism, Conservatism, and Americanism

1. Conservative Society Identity:
   • Viewed as a conservative society but aligns more with classical liberalism.
   • The notion of conservatism differs significantly from European definitions.
2. Historical Context:
   • Conservative politics in Europe tied to the welfare state and historic church alliances.
   • Bismarck and Disraeli as iconic leaders relating to the development of conservatism.
3. American Liberalism vs. European Definitions:
   • Early U.S. governmental frameworks emerged before the term "liberal" solidified in political discourse.
   • In the U.S., liberalism often embodies anti-statism and laissez-faire policies.
4. Prominent Figures in American Conservative Thought:
   • Ronald Reagan and Milton Friedman exemplifying American conservatism.
   • Friedrich Hayek’s ideations rejecting aristocracy and social hierarchy influence.

Shifts in Political Discourse (1930s Onward)

• The Great Depression marked a shift towards a political landscape with social democratic influences.
• Emergence of welfare state concepts reinforced during crises (e.g., New Deal by Franklin Roosevelt).
• American labor movements exhibited notable anti-statism historically, strongly advocating for individual union rights rather than increased governmental power.

Trade Union Dynamics

• AFL and IWW representation in labor history:
  • AFL's radical, anti-state stance vs. IWW's revolutionary, anarcho-syndicalist leanings.
  • New Left movement in the 1960s deviated toward libertarianism and personal autonomy.
• Labor movements impacted by post-war prosperity led to declining influence whereas the CIO adopted more socially democratic tenets.

Conclusion on Political Structures

• The founding fathers designed a wary system of limited government power to avoid monopolization reminiscent of European traditions.
• Emphasis on separated powers and checks and balances distinctively shapes American political systems and experiences, maintaining individual rights in the governance framework.