Herbert London has defined pre-emptive declinism as a postmodern belief "that the United States is not an exceptional nation and is not entitled by virtue of history to play a role on the world stage different from other nations".
Herbert Londoni sõnul on ennetav allakäigu ennustamine (pre-emptive declinism) postmodernne uskumus, "et USA ei ole erandlik riik ja ajalugu ei anna talle õigust maailmaareenil teistest riikidest erinevat rolli mängida".