Exceptionalism of The Ordinary

In a world of living beings, the notion of human exceptionalism mostly benefited us, despite being taken for granted. The same holds true for the realm of international relations. The idea of national exceptionalism has productive role and is placed highly on the front page of any particular foreign policy.

International Idealism

According to idealism, an internal political philosophy should be the goal of foreign politics. Since 1880s, idealists were the strongest believers in progress and transformation of international relations into a fundamentally peaceful and just world order. All the world’s grievances, ill-will, prejudice and ignorance are to be cured with democracy and peace loving “international mind”. One of the main tenets of modern idealist thinking is democratic peace theory by which the states with similar models of democratic government do not fight one another, and international law holds the prominent role.

The most influential advocate for foreign affairs idealism was 28th president of the United States of America, Thomas Woodrow Wilson. As president, Wilson led the U.S. into World War I, and was the leading architect of the League of Nations. His Versailles legacy shaped world politics, no European statesman of the era had such a lasting or widespread influence.

National exceptionalism was termed by a French aristocrat and political philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville. To be an exceptional country for Tocqueville means to be qualitatively different from all other countries in terms of values like liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and lassez-fare economics.

In the heart of Wilsonian ideal is American exceptionalism. And with this kind of exceptional comes the commitment to show mankind the way of liberty, to make the world a safe democracy.

Every country in the world has its own particular exceptionalism, and given the global cultural communications, neither Japanese exceptionalism or Greek exceptionalism for example, present such a unique “problem” as the American does. Perhaps, Churchill was the most successfully in underlining the distinction between American exceptionalism being based on a shared creed rather, than as most nations, a shared history.

“In Europe, nationality is related to community, and thus one cannot become un-English or un-Swedish. Being an American, however, is an ideological commitment. It is not a matter of birth. Those who reject American values are un-American.”

Winston Churchill

Classical foreign idealism failed together with League of Nations. After the World War II it was “reborn” in tempered form as liberalism, resulting in creation of various international institutions like United Nations and regimes like Bretton Woods system. Later it branched out to a more uncompromising and morally aggressive form known as neoconservatism, which results in application of crude force if necessary, in order to preserve international peace and order.

Realism

Foreign policy idealism is generally juxtaposed to realism. The theory of political realism explains state policy in terms of pursuit of survival or security.

Idealists believe that other nations’ stated good intentions can be relied upon, whereas realists hold that good intentions are in the long run subject to the security dilemma (spiral model) – when the increase in one state’s security leads other states to fear for their own security. Consequently, for realists, security-increasing measures can lead to tensions, escalation or conflict.

Early political idealism relied on the universal morality, the omnipotence of God and superiority of Anglo-Saxons to make the world over in their image. On the other hand, realism is more concerned with fundamental human nature that makes us act in a way that places interest over ideologies, driven by will to power. Realism also evolved over time with its liberal, structural, and constructivist flavors. 

Realists are generally critical of liberal foreign policy, and the huge spectrum of realist ideas revolves around state-centrism, international political anarchy, rational self-interest in foreign relations, and power to ensure self-preservation. 

Realism today is highly criticized due to its illiberal tendencies. It was seen as discredited after the Wold War II, only to re-emerge again during the Cold War.

Human Exceptionalism

Is it possible to establish one permanent and immutable international hierarchy? Can that be done in the ordinary world of man-made countries, each exceptional in its own way?

Idealists claim it is possible, there can be one and absolute image of the world, same as there is one and almighty God in the Universe. 

But the political practice of realpolitik teaches us otherwise.

As well as in individual relationships, international relations are prone to volatility due to power imbalances. And as in individual lives, periods of relative stability are followed by decades of mistrust, insecurities and disillusionment. We move slow, then we accelerate. Power and energy are hard to control, difficult to resist. A continuum from static ideals to reality in constant flux serves best to represent the diversity and nuances of contemporary politics.

Human history is one extreme sport of highest, honorable amplitudes and lowest, diabolical falls; from conquering outer space to nuclear arms race.

Yet, we’re still here. And that is what makes us exceptional.