THEORIES OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM

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THEORIES OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM
Gary Klass POS232 Politics and Public Policy
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American Creed \ Consensus Theory

• middle-class dominant or "classless" society --
  residual underclass

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Policy trends

• Limited government, except in education.
• progressive development in periods of middle
  class reform
• Government expands (in spurts) in reaction to
  appeals to middle class conscience

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Popular ideology

• American Creed limited government.,
  individualism, self-reliance tempered by
  commitment to principles of equality and fair
  play. progressive development in periods of
  middle class reform
• Government expands in reaction to appeals to
  middle class conscience

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Governing institutions

• Fragmented institutions
• Federalism
• Sep. of Powers
• Checks Balances
• weak parties

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Class conflict \ Social control

• business elite seeks power and money oppresses
  the poor and working class

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Policy trends

• limited government in social welfare (for the
  poor)
• big government for corporate interests and the
  wealthy
• cycles of expansion to control unrest and
  contraction enforce low wages

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Popular ideology

• American laissez-faire ideology is a false
  ideology that separates politics and economics.
• class consciousness is needed

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Governing institutions

• Fragmented institutions
• designed to prevent majority control,
• and encourage corruption and business\elite
  control

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Minority empowerment

• middle class oppression of minorities and women,
  in addition to power elite oppression

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Policy trends

• essential characteristic of policy is the
  pervasive racism and sexism
• Research describes backlash, retrenchment,
  erosion of previous gains

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Popular ideology

• inherently racist/sexist value system that serves
  white, male, middle-class interests.
• Belief in individualism and limited govt. are a
  cover (symbolic racism) for self-interests of the
  oppressors.

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Governing institutions

• majoritarian institutions are a threat to
  minority interests

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Communitarian

• Hyperpluralism
• conflict among racial, ethnic, religious,
  language, economic classes and beneficiary and
  constituency groups

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Policy trends

• means-tested, targeted and decentralized
  programs.
• special interest politics
• fragmented policies serve to fragment society
• Societal fragmentation exacerbates demands for
  special interest policies.

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Popular ideology

• changing values of integration and isolation
  among both majority and minority groups
• consciousness of common ground citizenship
  interests is needed

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Governing institutions

• fragmented government and targeted social policy
  promote special interest demands on government