CLASH OF CIVILISATION

 The term ‘civilisation’ refers to a cultural entity which creates a distinct difference between villages, districts, ethnic groups, citizens, religious groups and such which are diversified in nature:

• It is defined by language, history, religion, customs, institutionalisation & others. Civilisational identity – important in the future, shaped by the consequences of different civilisations interacting – Western, Confucian, Japanese, Islamic, Hindu, African, Slavic-Orthodox and Latin American.
• Huntington suggests – future conflicts are no longer about ideologies or economic wealth but about culture
• majority of present-day conflicts caused by differences in cultural, religious or civilisation-related values

HUNTINGTON’S ARGUMENTS

• The Asian economies and Islamic civilisation are the new emerging threats to the West.
• Fault line of wars between Muslim and non-Muslim are caused by antagonistic relations (pg. 256) – wherever one looks along the perimeter of Islam, Muslims have problems living peacefully with their neighbours.
• (pg. 263) Islam is a religion of the sword and glorifies military virtues, the process of conquer and converted still the legacy of Islam in conflict with different cultures, Islam is a source of instability in world because it lacks a dominant centre – states aspiring to be leaders of Islam (disunity among Muslims) – none can act authoritatively on behalf of Islam in dealing with conflicts of Muslims-non-Muslims.
• Muslims make up one-fifth of world population but in 1990s have been involved in intergroup violence than people of other civilisations (based on quantitative evidence of conflicts occurred).
• Changes in demographic balance lead to conflict – birth & fertility rates change demography where one ethnic group is more than the other increasing insecurity politically, economically and socially.
• History of violent conflicts continue suspicion and grievances.
• Who is still the reigning hegemon? The West is as the apex of world dominance as compared to other civilisations – Its arch enemy, Communism, is no longer a threat especially militarily – Western economic might is not contested except with Japan.
• Future conflicts could also signify that it is not just between civilisations but this need to continue being rich; capitalist states maintaining hold on natural resources for industrial purposes & taking control of the free economic international market.
• Ideas about modernisation prosper in many countries – westernisation is no longer the only concept of modernity – others want closer correlation between modernisation and religious ideologies.

CONCLUSION

• Huntington’s thesis has brought about much criticism among others, by creating a diversion so that world community continues to look upon the west as the global problem solver & not giving room to alternative viewpoints.
• The constant criticism of the Islamic world increased grievances and fanned flames of nationalism, assertion of identities among non-western societies.
• Huntington’s thesis justified a global ‘witch hunt’ of anti-western movements reflected through majority of western nations’ foreign policies such as war on terrorism used to persecute Islamic states.
• Question – is the Islamic civilisation the only problematic civilisation as compared to others? Even the Christian clerics acknowledge that the decline of religious values within its members and institution is not solely a ‘Christian’ or ‘western’ problem.
• Degeneration of religious standards within the monastic practices with sex scandals and misuse of power are signs of this decline within western societies which they themselves try not to acknowledge.