Issue № 49. April 2015

Asymmetric Threats of “American Exceptionalism” Through the Prism of Realism and Pragmatism

Ph.D., Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: sergey@sudakov.cc

In this article, the author returns to the events that occurred after the 9/11 and on concrete examples reveals features of the concept of “American exceptionalism” through the prism of the war against global terrorism. The author convincingly proves that the war with non-traditional actors in world politics is not possible using only the tools of classical realism. The article also examines the use of particular methodological apparatus of pragmatism and realism in foreign policy decisions making of Administrations George Walker Bush and Barack Hussein Obama.

Keywords

Pragmatism, realism, asymmetric conflicts, American exceptionalism, American superiority, theory of war, 9/11, global terrorism, preventive war, controlled chaos, linear doctrine, George W. Bush, Barack Obama.