Critically Evaluate Selective Use I provide at least three recommended readings

American Exceptionalism and the U.S. Foreign Policy: A Critical Evaluation of Selected Texts Student Name University Course Professor Name Date American Exceptionalism and the U.S. Foreign Policy: A Critical Evaluation of Selected Texts American exceptionalism is a construct that attracted massive attention in the political spheres during the Obama presidency. Previously, the idea was primarily discussed in academic circles as scholars attempted to link American exceptionalism to American identity and foreign policy. Barack Obama was the first African American president of the United States. His announcement that he was running for presidency set off a series of events followed by a series of accusations as opponents and other political stakeholders attempted to prove that Obama was not American. Other presidents have also confronted the idea and answered several questions on American exceptionalism. The concept is not new and has attracted less attention in American politics after the Obama presidency. However, Americans still believe in being exceptional, and this ideology has fundamentally shaped how the country relates to the rest of the world. This paper critically evaluates three American exceptionalism texts, focusing on their arguments, assumptions, and evidence. A summary of the three texts will be provided, after which the arguments in the texts are explored. The critical review evaluates the three texts on their terms and in comparison. The comparison will be done among the texts and other literature on the subject. Summary of the Works The book “American Exceptionalism: An Idea That Made a Nation and Remade the World” by Hilde Restad explores how American exceptionalism shapes the country’s foreign policy. The author, an Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Bjorknes College in Oslo, challenges the conventional manner in which American exceptionalism is coupled with U.S. foreign policy. A brief background to Obama’s case sets the book’s tone by highlighting that people do not necessarily understand or agree on what American exceptionalism entails. Restad (2015) makes two main arguments. Firstly, the belief in American exceptionalism has had a profound and lasting effect on how the U.S. relates to the world. Secondly, American exceptionalism can be a practical approach to defining American identity. With these arguments, it can be expected that the book differs from conventional literature. For example, Restad (2015) adopts the position that American exceptionalism is an American identity to illustrate that American exceptionalism has resulted in the U.S. adopting an internationalist foreign policy. The rationale is that foreign policy is not merely based on seeing America as distinct but a superior entity that should liberate the rest of the world to align the world with the American posture. The second text comes from Chapter One of the book "American Exceptionalism and the Legacy of Vietnam: U. S. Foreign Policy Since 1974" by Trevor McCrisken. It discusses American exceptionalism and its relationship to American foreign policy. McCrisken (2003) defines American exceptionalism as a belief that the U.S. is an extraordinary nation with a unique role in human history. The author also expresse...