WI: Perceptions of the US in a World without American exceptonalism

What if there was no American exceptionalism? What if anything they do will be justified on the basis of other colonial powers, so less of American exceptionalism and more of broader "western/white man" exceptionalism. That or borderline say they justify anything they do with realpolitik/political realism. What would pro-American discourse take? What would anti-American discourse take?
 
Almost all countries think they're exceptional, just that most don't have the muscle to back it up.
 
What if there was no American exceptionalism? What if anything they do will be justified on the basis of other colonial powers, so less of American exceptionalism and more of broader "western/white man" exceptionalism. That or borderline say they justify anything they do with realpolitik/political realism. What would pro-American discourse take? What would anti-American discourse take?

I'd argue that it used to be broader western term, until the two world wars humbled Europe.
 
I am inclined to agree with Janprimus. Every country thinks itself exceptional, different and unique. With imo is true to an extent, for the US too, don't think you can change that without changing the very nation and how it develops. The US is simply likely to develop differently politically from most European countries due to how much easily conquerable land it has to its west. Compared to Europe which was pretty filled up, and the competition for land was much stronger.

When it comes to America seeming exceptional during the 1940-2000 I would also argue that it has more to do with the European countries being devastated by the world wars, which politically, geopolitically and socially are still felt until today. With large parts of Europe still recovering from communist rule.
 
What if there was no American exceptionalism? What if anything they do will be justified on the basis of other colonial powers, so less of American exceptionalism and more of broader "western/white man" exceptionalism.

Up until racial supremacy got out of fashion, that's exactly what it was. The post-war "American exceptionalism" was largely a product of the Cold War.
 
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