Redeeming American exceptionalism / Redeeming American political science: An analysis of Judith N. Shklar's presidential address

Abstract

In her 1990 presedential address, the late Judith N. Shklar rejects characterizations of American political theory as either Lockean or republican and attempts to “redeem” American political theory by contending that there is a “diverse” tradition that constitutes a “profound meditation upon our political insititutions.” She also argues that such a perspective will integrate American political theory and political science. Through the presentation of a brief examination of various forms of American exceptionalism and an alternate historical narrative, I argue that her analysis is incomplete and requires revision because she fails to place the concept of American exceptionalism at the center of her analysis while simultaneously employing major portions of the theory. This failure leads Shklar to replicate the historical pattern of American political theory since her redemptive project simulates those she seeks to study and raises serious questions about the redemptive capacities of American political science as well.