But First: The Myth of American Exceptionalism
For generations, American exceptionalism has been a defining belief in the nation’s identity. The idea that the United States is uniquely positioned as the world’s beacon of democracy, innovation, and prosperity has shaped both domestic policy and international relations. This belief, however, often serves as a way to justify the status quo and overlook systemic problems within the country. Nonetheless, research has shown that, for better or for worse, less than 8% of Americans believe there are “countries better than the US” despite being near-middle and sometimes last amongst developed nations in numerous global comparisons on standards of living, wealth, health and education.
Former President Donald Trump’s second inaugural address reinforced this myth, claiming that the U.S. is “history’s greatest civilization.” Such rhetoric, while inspiring to many, clashes with harsh realities: rising economic inequality, declining life expectancy, and growing social unrest. While the image of America as a land of limitless opportunity is deeply ingrained, the reality for many citizens is one of financial precarity and dwindling faith in the system.
The persistence of this myth allows leaders to deflect responsibility for addressing systemic issues. If the country is already the greatest, the logic goes, then drastic reform is unnecessary. Yet, as economic pressures mount and social disparities widen, the cracks in this long-standing narrative are becoming impossible to ignore.
The Erosion of the American Dream
The American Dream—the idea that anyone, regardless of background, can achieve success through hard work—has long been a cornerstone of national identity. However, recent surveys indicate that belief in this dream is waning. A poll found that only 36% of Americans still believe in the American Dream, a steep drop from 52% in 2012. This decline signals a growing sense of pessimism and disillusionment among the public.
Economic inequality, stagnant wages, and the rising cost of living have all played a role in this shift. The middle class, once the backbone of the American economy, is shrinking. Homeownership, long considered a key milestone of the American Dream, is becoming increasingly out of reach for younger generations. As financial struggles intensify, more Americans are questioning whether the dream they were promised was ever truly attainable.
Deeper Disenchantment: a Fractured National Identity
Beyond economic stagnation and policy failures, the disenchantment with the American Dream stems from something deeper: a fracturing national identity. The country has long upheld a “cohering national story about opportunity,” but as economic and social divides grow, this story has become harder to believe.
This national narrative—built on ideals of individual responsibility, meritocracy, and upward mobility—once provided a sense of cohesion. However, as real-life experiences diverge from these ideals, widespread disillusionment has taken hold. For many, especially younger generations and marginalized communities, the promise of opportunity feels increasingly like a relic of the past rather than a reality of the present.
The American Dream: A Tale of Two Narratives
| Narrative | Description |
|---|---|
| The Traditional Narrative | Emphasizes individual responsibility, hard work, and the belief that anyone can achieve success through effort. |
| The Emerging Narrative | Acknowledges the role of systemic factors, such as inequality, discrimination, and lack of opportunity, in shaping individual outcomes. |
The Traditional Narrative
The longstanding version of the American Dream emphasizes personal agency. It suggests that through hard work, perseverance, and determination, anyone can achieve success. This narrative has fueled the country’s entrepreneurial spirit and inspired millions to strive for a better life.
The Emerging Narrative
A new perspective is gaining traction—one that acknowledges systemic barriers to success. Inequality, discrimination, and structural obstacles play a significant role in shaping individual outcomes. This emerging narrative challenges the notion that hard work alone determines success and calls for systemic reforms to create a fairer society.
The Need for a New Narrative
The United States is at a crossroads. The traditional narrative of boundless opportunity no longer reflects the lived experiences of many Americans. A new national story is necessary—one that recognizes both the country’s strengths and its challenges.
This updated narrative should address pressing issues like income inequality, racial injustice, and climate change while also reinforcing the importance of collective action and social responsibility. Rather than placing the burden solely on individuals to succeed, it should advocate for structural changes that create genuine opportunities for all.
A more realistic and nuanced vision of the American Dream is needed—one that acknowledges the evolving economic landscape while maintaining the country’s spirit of ambition and innovation.
Also read: The Surprising Origins of “The American Dream”
The belief in American exceptionalism and the erosion of the American Dream have fueled a growing sense of disenchantment. If national exceptionalism turns to national disappointment (in an imagined reality that includes only a small minority of the American public), the next step inevitably seems to be right-ring extremism. Economic instability, social divisions, and systemic inequities have made it clear that the traditional national narrative no longer serves all Americans.
As the country grapples with these challenges, a new, more inclusive narrative is essential. A realistic vision for the future—one that embraces both opportunity and systemic reform—can help restore faith in the American Dream and ensure that it remains accessible to future generations. Only by acknowledging the nation’s shortcomings while striving for progress can the United States reclaim its promise as a land of opportunity for all.
This “Post-Social” Moment
This American Moment lacks a coherent narrative to unite the nation’s majority, something that the expired American Dream of the 20th Century was so good at providing, regardless of politics and identity.
We live a different 21st Century reality, a post-social reality that is conscious of the lived experiences of vulnerable classes and identities, and therefore skeptical of the traditional national narrative of individual responsibility, meritocracy, and upward mobility, which do not serve the real lived experiences of most Americans today but once provided a sense of cohesion and national unity.
Populism is the American Nightmare
The story of the Erosion of the American Dream has set the stage for the rule of right-wing populism. Trump’s promises to fix all of America’s economic problems through a flavor of authoritarian government overreach has striking similarities to promises made during Hitler’s ascent in pre-WWII Germany.
Read next: Our comprehensive series on the worker impacts of the Gutting of the Federal Government led by Trump and Musk’s DOGE agency promises to end protections for America’s most vulnerable citizens, widening the inequality gap. The American Dream seemed out of reach in 2024, and the new administration seeks to keep it that way for America’s middle and lower classes.
