Abstract
The idea of American exceptionalism has shaped American politics and captivated audiences for centuries. This study examines the global contexts in which U.S. presidents have invoked the idea of American exceptionalism when addressing foreign audiences since the end of World War II. Our results reveal: (a) differences in how U.S. presidents invoke American exceptionalism when speaking to a global audience (e.g., the United Nations) versus more localized, foreign audiences within individual states; (b) significant variation regarding which countries are more likely to be targets of American exceptionalism in U.S. presidential discourse; and (c) the profound impact that the end of the Cold War had on these dynamics.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 271-291 |
Number of pages | 21 |
Journal | Presidential Studies Quarterly |
Volume | 48 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- American exceptionalism
- international relations
- national identity
- presidential discourse
- presidential rhetoric
- public diplomacy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- History
- Sociology and Political Science
- Public Administration