The topic of national self-regard falls under the general historical heading of 'exceptionalism' - where claims are made as to the unique quality of national experience, or 'character'. The two are usually connected. How a nation views its elementary virtues or basic inclinations is obviously significant. A shared sense of the whole has a bearing on the fashioning of political campaigns, on the values taught in the family and at school, on social and urban policies, on the construction of the workplace, on definitions of success and failure and on the response of its citizenry to moments of crisis.

LRB 23 July 1992 | PDF Download