US ‘exceptionalism’ under fresh scrutiny

The fact that America’s “exceptionalism” – a well-crafted and deep-rooted concept that many hold dear and one that is still dictating the tempo of the world – is in danger of unravelling is not a fresh assumption. At present, though, the threat of it getting outdated or becoming extinct is looming larger than ever, thanks to a growing understanding that the US is getting richer, not to mention its questionable acts. 
Virally shared online is a video in which American academic and economic thinker Jeffry Sachs talks about his new book, “A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism”. To sum it up, he says it does not make sense for a tiny percentage of the world population to try to control the other 95 or so per cent. A foreign policy based on economic, moral and military thinking stemming from a virtual superiority complex must end or undergo sweeping changes, for the world’s sake and America’s own good, he says.
In the video, he addresses the no-nonsense rise of China, whose pursuit of excellence in various fields looks on the surface like that of the United States, but in fact is not driven, at least excessively, by ideology or hegemonic thinking. China’s dizzying technological progress has materialised through super-fast trains and scientific developments that have wowed the world. The academic said he couldn’t think of the last time a US government, be it Republican or Democrat, really “built” something for the genuine interests of the people.
Donald Trump embodies the confusion about what to do next, he says. On the one hand, he told voters about the virtues of looking inward, of doing something to truly serve their interests. 
On the other hand, he has issued bigger threats than his predecessors to countries doing things that America doesn’t like.
According to the academic, it is “dangerous” for the world and for the United States itself to presume that there is only one set of political and economic values and that set must be endorsed by Washington. 
China has been doing many things differently and look at it now – it has a vast population jumping from poverty to considerable well-being at a surprising speed.
Indeed, the “too-big-to-fail” mentality can lead to a slow but certain demise. But what is worse is that trying to protect a flawed system that is too big can be very costly, risky and can lead to a domino-effect catastrophe. With America’s doctrine dictating much of the world’s economic rhythm, one good example of the dark side of the “too-big-to-fail” belief is the global financial turbulence caused by the near collapse of Wall Street during the sub-prime crisis. 
Not only were American bankers and brokers going down, they were taking a lot of foreign counterparts down with them.
A rethink is vital. 
A foreign policy that offers few compromises for those who are doing things differently should be revamped. 
These changes could make America less influential, thus undermining the “American century” goal that took advantage of the weakening of the United States’ biggest rival, the Soviet empire. 
But something needs to happen.