Anti-Americanism vs. American Ignorance [video 1 hr 17 min 17 sec]

From the early 19th century onwards, American politicians and the American people have frequently been seen as culturally and intellectually inferior by outsiders. Should these claims be seen as anti-American stereotypes and prejudices or is there reasonable evidence to support such conclusions?

Brendon O'Connor, Associate Professor in American Politics at the University of Sydney, explores the historical origins of a set of powerful tropes and stereotypes that emerged describing the American people, their culture and their politics as insular, backward, uncouth, populist and anti-intellectual.