American identity: global dimension

2016;
: 19-23
https://doi.org/10.23939/shv2016.02.019
Received: November 07, 2016
Accepted: December 13, 2016
Authors:
1
Lviv National Polytechnic University

The article attempts to analyze the perception of American identity and its international importance through ethnic, religious, political, legal, and economic components. It is determined that ethnically modern America is formed by assimilation of the indigenous population and immigrants from Europe, Asia, Africa, etc. as they contributed to the formation of many political, social, constitutional and religious institutions of the new country, the definition of American identity and values. Along with existing discrimination against indigenous peoples and racism in many areas of American life, the modern United States successfully integrated all immigrants in contemporary American society. It is emphasized that the United States is inherent in a pluralistic religious culture: it takes its roots from the belief that immigrants and servants brought to America. Religious faith, observations, and pluralism of religions have become features of American society and an important aspect of the social, economic and political life of the USA. The article analyses a political and legal part of the phenomenon as one which is based on individualism, constitutionalism, and respect for the law. This approach seeks to unite people around a great version of the American identity, which is rather abstract. The notion of an “American” includes both the materialistic aspects of reality and idealistic and symbolic definition of the term “nation”. An economic aspect of the American identity is conditioned by the development of production, corporate and individual competition, and free enterprise system. Historically, people have fought for economic and social survival and this competitive nature of American life creates significant disparities of wealth, social inequality, and different life opportunities of people. The impact of these components on contemporary American society and the international community is researched.

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