Empire Quote by Ann Laura Stoler
““Exceptionalism" is a shared self-description of imperial forms and . . . every empire imagines itself an exception.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Imperial Formations, Ann Laura Stoler, 2015
Empires label themselves as unique, reinforcing their exceptional status.
In simple terms: Empires claim uniqueness.
Key Takeaway
Question narratives of imperial exceptionalism.
Themes
politics
identity
power
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- political theory
- cultural studies
Key Concepts
imperial discourse
self‑definition
Questions to Reflect On
- How does exceptionalism affect policy?
- What are the consequences of viewing an empire as unique?
A Different Perspective
Such self‑descriptions can mask underlying inequalities.
![“What I mean to say is that in a highly exceptional reality [...] the non-exceptional can, for convenience sake, be written off as paradoxically exceptional.” quote by Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b9f/haruki-murakami-21_quote_what-i-mean-to-say-is-that-in-a-highly-e_2650546.jpg)
