1 Interests, Ideas, Institutions, and American Exceptionalism (4/6) -- Understanding America

1 Interests, Ideas, Institutions, and American Exceptionalism I – Introduction↑ “U.S. Government and Politics” is a topic that in some ways needs no introduction. No matter where you come from in the world, you are probably familiar with American politics and American culture in at least some ways; this may be particularly true for Canadians, who share a border and, to some extent, a common North American culture with the USA. Yet even a deep familiarity with the daily drama of American politics is very different from understanding American politics and American political institutions as a whole. We should not assume that familiarity with American culture, or even familiarity with the day to day mass media coverage of political campaigns and speeches, can be a substitute for more serious consideration of American politics. We are familiar with American politics; this is not the same thing as understanding American politics. What makes American politics worthy of study? American politics is interesting because of conflict and power. The cultural and political divisions of the United States, exemplified by the contrasting visions of government propounded by the Republican and Democratic parties, are the central attraction of the American political spectacle. The deep political differences that divide Americans have many possible sources. While almost all nations are divided by issues of economics, Americans seem to be particularly divided over questions related to race and religion. In few other Western societies has the problem of race relations loomed as large over the political scene as in the United States. Similarly, there are few other Western societies in which disputes over religious values play as significant a political role.1 Particularly in comparison with Canada. American political leaders and the American public appear to have deeper disagreements about fundamental aspects of political life: the scope of the state, the proper function of political institutions, the nature of individual rights. This gives American politics a sense of urgency that often seems lacking in Canadian politics. This perspective may be incorrect; there is a long and venerable tradition which suggests that the political differences between the Republicans and Democrats are minuscule and of no practical relevance. We will take this alternative perspective into account, but I think that the deep truth about American politics is very close to what appears on the surface—Americans are profoundly divided over political questions, and those divisions have become more stark over time. This might not make the USA more admirable than other countries; it does make the United States an interesting country to study. Canadians have an additional interest in American politics because we are all affected by the USA’s immense power and influence. However, the same can arguably said about the rest of the world as well. The USA is the Rome of the contemporary world– which is not