The Roots of American Exceptionalism Institutions, Culture, and Policies

How is the United States different from other states? Why is it different? The Roots of American Exceptionalismdraws on societies' unique histories, distinctive paths of institutional development and contrasting cultures to explain why they adopt different policies for common problems. It compares the United States with Sweden on tax policy, Canada on financing medical care, France on abortion policy, and Japan on immigration. The book shows that American public policies across these four areas fit a pattern of embodying the fundamental beliefs and value priorities of a particular culture: individualism. And while American public policies are rational from this cultural perspective, this culturally-constrained rationality is contrasted with alternative culturally-constrained rationalities, that are more egalitarian and/or hierarchical, prevailing in Sweden, Canada, France and Japan.

Charles Lockhart is a professor of Political Science at Texas Christian University.

"This ambitious book is an ideal text for undergraduate and graduate courses in comparative politics, public policy, and American politics in comparative perspective. Lockhart offers a judicious appraisal of the complex factors that have produced nationally distinct policies and constrain innovative responses to new problems and crises."--Gary P. Freeman, University of Texas

"This is a very good, original, and interesting comparison of crucial and topical governmental policies that should appeal to students and produce productive discussions. The case chapters are excellent and provide a wealth of material. The analysis is crisp, and the writing is engaging."--Paul Manuel, Saint Anselm College

"Charles Lockhart is one of the leading scholars in the world today in the field of political culture. In a study that contrasts the United States with Sweden, Canada, France and Japan, he explores how history, institutions and culture interact to produce distinctive national policies in the areas of taxation, medical care, abortion and immigration. The result is a provocative tour de force that breathes new life into the comparative study of social policies."--Richard W. Wilson, Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University

"Lockhart presents a clearly written account of a complex problem--how and why American social policies differ from those of other industrial states.  In doing so, he offers a convincing demonstration of the utility of grid-group theory in addressing the role of culture in social causation."--Andrew J. Nathan, Class of 1919 Professor of Political Science, Columbia University