The Clash of Civilizations?

Samuel P. Huntington

Summary: World politics is entering a new phase, in which the great divisions among humankind and the dominating source of international conflict will be cultural. Civilizations-the highest cultural groupings of people-are differentiated from each other by religion, history, language and tradition. These divisions are deep and increasing in importance. From Yugoslavia to the Middle East to Central Asia, the fault lines of civilizations are the battle lines of the future. In this emerging era of cultural conflict the United States must forge alliances with similar cultures and spread its values wherever possible. With alien civilizations the West must be accommodating if possible, but confrontational if necessary. In the final analysis, however, all civilizations will have to learn to tolerate each other.

THE NEXT PATTERN OF CONFLICT

1. What does the author propose as his thesis?

2. What draws him to this conclusion?

THE NATURE OF CIVILIZATIONS

3. What is the significance of civilizations now? What are they and what makes them important?

WHY CIVILIZATIONS WILL CLASH

4. What factors have a role in the greatly anticipated clash of civilizations?

5. How is it that a “smaller world” will cause animosity rather than tolerance?

6. At what two-levels will the clash of civilizations occur? Explain.

THE FAULT LINES BETWEEN CIVILIZATIONS

7. How have violent events shaped the current relationship of the West and Islam?

8. Given the historical evidence, is religion the ultimate divider of people?

CIVILIZATION RALLYING

9. What is the “kin-country” syndrome? Explain in relation to the Gulf War.

10. Why are inter-civilization clashes less of a threat?

THE WEST VERSUS THE REST

11. How has the West ensured their worldwide dominance? Is it true their efforts lie in the sole preservation and promotion of their own self-interests?

12. What will the response of non-Western civilizations be towards Western hegemony? Name the three alternatives.

THE TORN COUNTRIES

13. Which is the most obvious “torn country”? What qualifies a country to fall under this predicament and/or identity crisis?

14. Who represents the United States’ torn country? Who is the culprit on a global scale?

THE CONFUCIAN-ISLAMIC CONNECTION

15. Since considerable obstacles exist for non-Western, especially Muslim, Confucian, Hindu and Buddhist societies to become a part of the West, what makes Japan so unique?

16. What is the most exclusive conflict between the West and the Confucian-Islamic states?

17. Evaluate the threat of Confucian-Islamic military capability. Is it really a threat or is the West paranoid?

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WEST

18. What does the author stress regarding different civilizations?

19. What policies must the West pursue to avoid escalated violence? Name both short-term and long-term strategies.

Articles Arguing Against The Clash of Civilizations:

Henderson: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-2131459_ITM

Pippa Norris & Ronald Inglehart: http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/cultural/2003/0304clash.htm