The European awareness of America is based on old concepts and images. America was always seen as an “offspring” (PRISCHING 2003, S. 3) of Europe, so its perception is not focused on religious and political differences. The mistake within the European opinion is to underestimate the differences between Europe and America concerning the founding myths, the evolution of mentality, the economic and everyday culture and values and beliefs. But America keeps its own traditional attitude towards Europe as well. Besides mutual stereotypes and incongruent images there is a lack of awareness of semantic differences: In both cultures terms like moral good, justice or liberty look like the same but do not mean the same, although this obviously seems to be expected. To develop these expectations this paper aims to give a better understanding of the American identity by providing an overview of the background of American values – and answering the question: What is the American self?
The first chapter defines basic terms, which are the prerequisites and tools for this paper, shows distinctness and examples of distinct American values. The second part tries to give insight into the origins, history and evolution – the ‘where … from?’ – of the American identity by portraying the characteristics of selected American values. The last chapter will provide a conclusion on the current development of the American self-understanding and ideas about the future – the ‘where to?’ of the American self. But this ‘identification’ is based on my own – European or German – point of view as a part of the European or German ‘collective mind’, so that the following conclusions are not drawn on an objective selection of facts. This is an abstraction, neither I will not try to provide a complete overview of what I call ‘American values’ nor to discuss the conception of ‘identity’ scientifically but rather try to clear a path to a better understanding of American behavior and mentality.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The American identity – mosaic of values and beliefs
3. The Origins of American self
4. Where does America go?
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of the American identity by analyzing the background of American values and addressing the fundamental question: What is the American self? The work explores the historical, religious, and political foundations that shape the American worldview and examines the inherent tensions between idealized social values and political reality.
- Historical evolution of American national character and founding myths.
- The role of "Civil Religion" and its influence on American political and social behavior.
- The "American dream," individualism, and the impact of the "myth of success."
- The dichotomy between American values and the challenges of globalization and foreign policy.
- The relationship between the state, religious beliefs, and individual liberties.
Excerpt from the Book
The American identity – mosaic of values and beliefs
The politic and religious culture of the United States follows for the most part an unchanged and linear development. This partly results from the continuity of the American constitutional rules and stability of the American democracy, of freedom of religious beliefs, which all were not affected by changes of the social system nor religious wars for more than two hundred years now. This unbroken development produces a wide constant spectrum of “common recognized values” (WASSER 1982, S. 23) serving as a normative basis for the American society. But what are ‘values’? They are act-determining rules that lead and limit human behavior, they provide sense of one’s life and direction in the surrounding world. The aggregation of values, which are meaningful for every US-citizen, to a mosaic make the image of the American identity visible – as a stabile self-concept. Identity is described as a concept of continuity which helps to ascribe acts and characteristics to a certain culture or person. In addition it can be seen as a self-concept or an outline of somebody’s life which is of vital significance for him or her (vgl. DÜWELL 2002 S. 529, 395). The most obvious beliefs and values of the American society are found under the concept and the idea of the American exceptionalism.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This section frames the paper by highlighting the common European misperceptions of America and establishing the goal of understanding the American self through the lens of its unique values and founding myths.
The American identity – mosaic of values and beliefs: This chapter analyzes the normative basis of American society, exploring concepts like the "American dream," individualism, and the role of "Civil Religion" in creating a stable self-concept.
The Origins of American self: This chapter traces the historical development of the American character, focusing on the influence of early Puritan settlers, the "founding myths," and the role of the "frontier-experience."
Where does America go?: This section discusses the future of the American identity, focusing on how the nation balances its internal contradictions and value systems within the globalized, post-Cold War world.
Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, noting that the linear development of American values has reached a turning point that demands better mutual communication and comprehension between nations.
Bibliography: This section lists all scholarly sources and documents referenced in the paper.
Keywords
American identity, American exceptionalism, Civil Religion, founding myth, individualism, American dream, work-ethic, globalization, values, moral truths, Puritanism, national character, social mobility, political culture, self-understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The work primarily focuses on the American identity and self-understanding, exploring how historical and religious roots shape contemporary American values and behavior.
What are the central themes addressed in the work?
The central themes include the "American dream," the role of Civil Religion, the impact of the Puritan legacy on the American "work-ethic," and the inherent tensions between American ideals and reality.
What is the main research question of the paper?
The research seeks to answer the question: "What is the American self?" while simultaneously providing an overview of the background of American values.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The author uses a qualitative and analytical approach, combining historical analysis, sociological perspectives on Civil Religion, and an examination of intellectual responses to contemporary political events.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body covers the mosaic of values that constitute the American identity, the historical origins of the American national character, and a critical look at how these values translate into foreign policy and internal social structures.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include American exceptionalism, Civil Religion, individualism, the frontier-experience, and the moral mission of the United States in the international arena.
How does the author interpret the influence of the "founding myths" on current policy?
The author suggests that founding myths, such as "manifest destiny," are deeply anchored in American political culture, leading the nation to perceive itself as a redeemer and an embodiment of "moral truth" in world politics.
What does the paper conclude regarding the future of the "American self"?
The conclusion suggests that the era of linear and unchallenged development for American values has ended, and that the nation must increasingly engage in mutual understanding to handle the complexities of a globalized world.
- Quote paper
- Christian Bacher (Author), 2004, The American Identity and Self-Understanding, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/29312
