In an op-ed piece in yesterday’s New York Times, Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, writes thus about the dangers of American exceptionalism (the notion that somehow the US is unique or special):
My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.
Do you agree with Putin?
prior probability 
I agree. Maybe it is because I was not born in this country, so my perspective might be different. I like and voted for Obama, although I have not always agreed with his decisions while in office. I think the last thing Americans need is to be encouraged to feel exceptional. I feel that this notion leads to the United States feeling like the democracy police (the need to interfere in other countries). While this was great in the past for liberators such as Simon Bolivar in South America and Juan Pablo Duarte in the Hispanic Caribbean, I don’t feel it it necessary in today’s world. These men helped oppressed colonies free themselves from European powers and establish themselves as independent countries. I believe that the United States, having freed themselves from the grasps of Great Britain, fancy themselves “Top Colony.” This country has never let go of this notion and it is probably where this exceptionalism stems from.
As a Republican, anything and everything that President Obama says, I will challenge accordingly; however, with that being said, I could not agree more with Putin that Obama’s theory on “American exceptionalism” is quite dangerous. As stated in the comment above, this notion gives a sense of entitlement to the American people. With a few exceptions, of course, as a whole, this nation feels the need to stick their nose where it does not belong. I feel that we have enough domestic problems to keep President Obama and the rest of Congress busy for a lifetime, yet, here we are, once again, worrying about other people’s problems. As a nation we are CONSTANTLY looking for reasons and excuses to be involved in other people’s problems. It seems as though America has become worse than the worst high school gossip queen who is constantly in everyone’s business. Instead of preaching “American exceptionalism”, President Obama should be encouraging his people to take action in their own communities instead of feeling a sense of entitlement to invade other people’s countries and become involved in their problems.
Having studied the notion of “American exceptionalism” and understanding what it entails, I do agree with Putin and believe it is a dangerous theory. The idea that a country is “better than everyone else” is asking for disaster. No country wants to hear that they are unimportant or less than another. In an era where globalization is growing and countries are relying more and more on each other for multiple reasons, it is best to not put one’s self above another. There are theories that some countries do have leverage about another in economic or military forces, but regardless of these, one can never know when the tables will turn. This type of thought that America is “exceptional” is what will create enemies with other nations, and although they are not as strong individually, they may become allies and become greater than their “enemy.”