Throughout the history of the international system, patterns emerge that strongly suggest a correlation, and perhaps a causal relationship, between the rise and fall of dominant system leaders and the stability or instability of the system as a whole. This observed relationship between a system leader's relative power and the stability of the international order underpins the geopolitical concept of Hegemonic Stability Theory. However, not all system leaders are created equal; their qualities and the value they bring to systemic leadership vary significantly. These distinctions, along with the core principles of Hegemonic Stability Theory, offer a useful framework for understanding the concept of American exceptionalism.

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American exceptionalism refers to the belief that the United States is qualitatively different from other nations, rooted in its foundation on principles such as liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, republicanism, populism, and laissez-faire economics. This unique identity is exemplified by several factors, including the fact that the United States consistently provides more foreign aid in absolute terms than any other nation and that Americans, both individually and collectively, contribute more to charitable causes than any other society in both absolute and relative terms.

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When viewed through the lens of Hegemonic Stability Theory and the understanding that not all system leaders are equal, it becomes clear that American primacy and effective global leadership are vital for maintaining global stability. This leadership, in turn, benefits the world by fostering systemic stability and security. To fulfill this role, the United States must strategically pursue its national interests to sustain and strengthen its position of global primacy, ensuring it can continue to provide the public good of stability and security for the international system.