American culture can be defined by many things, but Americans would most likely agree that it is a culture of inherently limited government in its political structure, it is a culture that believes in limited liability in terms of foreign policy and entering wars, it can be swayed by nationalism, and has for the majority of its existence believed that there is something exceptional that sets it apart from all other cultures in the world. This paper will consider the weaknesses and strengths of American strategic culture.
Colin Dueck’s book Reluctant Crusaders, offers a strong definition of how culture relates to strategy by defining each portion of what this area of study is: ‘Culture,’ as a general term, simply refers to any set of interlocking values, beliefs, and assumptions that are held collectively by a given group and passed on through socialization. In the context of grand strategy, then, the relevant cultural values and beliefs are those that relate to the legitimate and efficient …show more content…
Although this also plays a role in what American exceptionalism is as well; many Americans hold the belief that there is something special about the American culture or experience cannot be left out. American exceptionalism is a part of the country for longer than it has existed, as Christopher Lloyd’s article would note “exceptionalism has arguably been situated at the center of the nation’s ideology since its founding in the seventeenth century. Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America is frequently cited as the first scripting of America as exceptional.” Tocqueville noted that associations in America allowed for democracy to prevail the way is has, but with associations and civil society at an all-time low, technology is the forthcoming replacement of associations in
Colin Dueck’s book Reluctant Crusaders, offers a strong definition of how culture relates to strategy by defining each portion of what this area of study is: ‘Culture,’ as a general term, simply refers to any set of interlocking values, beliefs, and assumptions that are held collectively by a given group and passed on through socialization. In the context of grand strategy, then, the relevant cultural values and beliefs are those that relate to the legitimate and efficient …show more content…
Although this also plays a role in what American exceptionalism is as well; many Americans hold the belief that there is something special about the American culture or experience cannot be left out. American exceptionalism is a part of the country for longer than it has existed, as Christopher Lloyd’s article would note “exceptionalism has arguably been situated at the center of the nation’s ideology since its founding in the seventeenth century. Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America is frequently cited as the first scripting of America as exceptional.” Tocqueville noted that associations in America allowed for democracy to prevail the way is has, but with associations and civil society at an all-time low, technology is the forthcoming replacement of associations in