American Exceptionalism and Human Rights

With the 2003 invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq, the most controversial question in world politics fast became whether the United States stands within the order of international law or outside it. Does America still play by the rules it helped create? __American Exceptionalism and Human Rights__ addresses this question as it applies to U.S. behavior in relation to international human rights. With essays by eleven leading experts in such fields as international relations and international law, it seeks to show and explain how America's approach to human rights differs from that of most other Western nations. In his introduction, Michael Ignatieff identifies three main types of exceptionalism: exemptionalism (supporting treaties as long as Americans are exempt from them); double standards (criticizing "others for not heeding the findings of international human rights bodies, but ignoring what these bodies say of the United States); and legal isolationism (the tendency of American judges to ignore other jurisdictions). The contributors use Ignatieff's essay as a jumping-off point to discuss specific types of exceptionalism--America's approach to capital punishment and to free speech, for example--or to explore the social, cultural, and institutional roots of exceptionalism. These essays--most of which appear in print here for the first time, and all of which have been revised or updated since being presented in a year-long lecture series on American exceptionalism at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government--are by Stanley Hoffmann, Paul Kahn, Harold Koh, Frank Michelman, Andrew Moravcsik, John Ruggie, Frederick Schauer, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Carol Steiker, and Cass Sunstein. With the 2003 invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq, the most controversial question in world politics fast became whether the United States stands within the order of international law or outside it. Does America still play by the rules it helped create? American Exceptionalism and Human Rights addresses this question as it applies to U.S. behavior in relation to international human rights. With essays by eleven leading experts in such fields as international relations and international law, it seeks to show and explain how America's approach to human rights differs from that of most other Western nations.In his introduction, Michael Ignatieff identifies three main types of exceptionalism: exemptionalism (supporting treaties as long as Americans are exempt from them); double standards (criticizing others for not heeding the findings of international human rights bodies, but ignoring what these bodies say about the United States); and legal isolationism (the tendency of American judges to ignore other jurisdictions). The contributors use Ignatieff's essay as a jumping-off point to discuss specific types of exceptionalism-America's approach to capital punishment and to free speech, for example-or to explore the social, cultural, and institutional roots of exceptionalism.These essays-most of which appear in print here for the first time, and all of which have been revised or updated since being presented in a year-long lecture series on American exceptionalism at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government-are by Stanley Hoffmann, Paul Kahn, Harold Koh, Frank Michelman, Andrew Moravcsik, John Ruggie, Frederick Schauer, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Carol Steiker, and Cass Sunstein. This Collection Of Essays Seeks To Identify And Explain How America's Approach To Human Rights Differs From That Of Most Other Western Nations. Introduction : American Exceptionalism And Human Rights / Michael Ignatieff -- Ch. 2. Exceptional First Amendment / Frederick Schauer -- Ch. 3. Capital Punishment And American Exceptionalism / Carol S. Steiker -- Ch. 4. Why Does The American Constitution Lack Social And Economic Guarantees? / Cass R. Sunstein -- Ch. 5. America's Jekyll-and-hyde Exceptionalism / Harold Hongju Koh -- Ch. 6. Paradox Of U.s. Human Rights Policy / Andrew Moravcsik -- Ch. 7. American Exceptionalism, Popular Sovereignty, And The Rule Of Law / Paul W. Kahn -- Ch. 8. American Exceptionalism : The New Version / Stanley Hoffmann -- Ch. 9. Integrity-anxiety? / Frank I. Michelman -- Ch. 10. Brave New Judicial World / Anne-marie Slaughter. Ch. 11. American Exceptionalism, Exemptionalism, And Global Governance / John Gerard Ruggie. Edited By Michael Ignatieff. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents Chapter 1. Introduction: American Exceptionalism and Human Rights Part I. The Varieties of Exceptionalism Chapter 2. The Exceptional First Amendment Chapter 3. Capital Punishment and American Exceptionalism Chapter 4. Why Does the American Constitution Lack Social and Economic Guarantees? Chapter 5. America’s Jekyll-and-Hyde Exceptionalism Part II. Explaining Exceptionalism Chapter 6. The Paradox of U.S. Human Rights Policy Chapter 7. American Exceptionalism, Popular Sovereignty, and the Rule of Law Part III. Evaluating Exceptionalism Chapter 8. American Exceptionalism: The New Version Chapter 9. Integrity-Anxiety? Chapter 10. A Brave New Judicial World Chapter 11. American Exceptionalism, Exemptionalism, and Global Governance Contributors Index Since 1945 America has displayed exceptional leadership in promoting international human rights.