A number of contrastive theories dominate American foreign policy operation, both in the present and throughout the country’s relatively brief history. Among them are exceptionalism, a long-standing, explicitly American ideal that lends us inherent divine purpose; expansionism, a desire to widen our borders and conquer territories, a prominent theme of manifest destiny; unilateralism, a freedom to engage with other countries without formalities such as alliances or agreements; and isolationism, a hesitance to engage with other countries in any manner, to focus on domestic interests (Datta). In its brief life, America and its citizens have maintained sturdy exceptionalist mindsets and, arguably, functioned within a mostly unilateral approach.
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L. Robert Kohls, in The Values Americans Live By, outlines the thirteen traits he attributes to Americans when introducing international visitors to the country for the first time. Of course, they are generalizations, and some Americans are exceptions that test the rules, but Kohls claims his outlined traits fit a majority of Americans (Kohls). The greatest unifier among the traits, the greatest common denominator, lies in their individualistic nature. Kohls, in his introduction, claims that Americans would have a difficult time elaborating upon which values they lived by, because they believe that “every individual is so unique that the same list of values could never be applied to all, or even most, of their fellow citizens” (Kohls). An individualistic mindset—in which one feels a strong personal control over one’s environment, favors change, acts competitively, and enjoys materialism—stems from the sense of individualism inherent in unilateralism (Kohls). American exceptionalism manifests not only in the actions of citizens, but in their beliefs, thoughts, and values as …show more content…
When a government acts in a unilateral fashion, it has less obstacles between its goals and ideals and its actions. Perhaps this lends understanding to European belief that Americans are “too religious” (Kohut & Stokes, 4). Americans have a “long tradition,” Kohut and Stokes claim, of separating church and state, but an “equally powerful inclination to mix religion with politics” (4). In this way, America’s values and its established identity contribute to its unique “style” of foreign policy. Americans revel in their individualistic personalities and identities, and so could their implementation of foreign policy. Kohut and Stokes reveal, however, a lack of evidence to support such a claim (5). Though religious views support political stances on personal issues, such a link did not exist “when it came to the use of force in the Balkans and Iraq, or . . . preventing genocide.” Though no evidence exists to support religiosity in American foreign policy making, that does not prevent the world from picking up on the country’s individuality. “The world’s biggest complaint about the United States,” the authors write, “is that Washington too often acts unilaterally, without concern for the interests of others” (6). This global claim is perpetuated in U.S. poll data: two-thirds of the U.S. said that “the United States was less respected globally than in the past,” but out of nineteen
L. Robert Kohls, in The Values Americans Live By, outlines the thirteen traits he attributes to Americans when introducing international visitors to the country for the first time. Of course, they are generalizations, and some Americans are exceptions that test the rules, but Kohls claims his outlined traits fit a majority of Americans (Kohls). The greatest unifier among the traits, the greatest common denominator, lies in their individualistic nature. Kohls, in his introduction, claims that Americans would have a difficult time elaborating upon which values they lived by, because they believe that “every individual is so unique that the same list of values could never be applied to all, or even most, of their fellow citizens” (Kohls). An individualistic mindset—in which one feels a strong personal control over one’s environment, favors change, acts competitively, and enjoys materialism—stems from the sense of individualism inherent in unilateralism (Kohls). American exceptionalism manifests not only in the actions of citizens, but in their beliefs, thoughts, and values as …show more content…
When a government acts in a unilateral fashion, it has less obstacles between its goals and ideals and its actions. Perhaps this lends understanding to European belief that Americans are “too religious” (Kohut & Stokes, 4). Americans have a “long tradition,” Kohut and Stokes claim, of separating church and state, but an “equally powerful inclination to mix religion with politics” (4). In this way, America’s values and its established identity contribute to its unique “style” of foreign policy. Americans revel in their individualistic personalities and identities, and so could their implementation of foreign policy. Kohut and Stokes reveal, however, a lack of evidence to support such a claim (5). Though religious views support political stances on personal issues, such a link did not exist “when it came to the use of force in the Balkans and Iraq, or . . . preventing genocide.” Though no evidence exists to support religiosity in American foreign policy making, that does not prevent the world from picking up on the country’s individuality. “The world’s biggest complaint about the United States,” the authors write, “is that Washington too often acts unilaterally, without concern for the interests of others” (6). This global claim is perpetuated in U.S. poll data: two-thirds of the U.S. said that “the United States was less respected globally than in the past,” but out of nineteen