The Clash of Civilizations

Samuel P. Huntington

Work Presented by:

•Patricia Quintino Nº 21167

•Petr Makovsky Nº 25335

•Peter Panholzer Nº 25333

•Ieong Chi Kun, Christine Nº 25246

•Fernando Piton Nº 25273

“It is my hypothesis that the

fundamental source of conflict in

this new world will not be primarily

ideological or primarily economic.”

Samuel P. Huntington

Clash of Civilizations

7 Main Civilizations

Modernization vs Westernization

West vs the Rest

Conclusion

Main Agenda

Civilizations

Civilization

Civilization is a cultural entity defined by objective elements such as: language,

history, religion….

Clash of Civilizations

Clash of Civilization

a clash of cultural spheres within a single global civilization

Why civilizations will clash?

Differences among civilizations are real and basic: history, language, culture, tradition & RELIGION

product of centuries

The world is becoming smaller

Why civilizations will clash?

Economic modernization & social change throughout the world

Dual Role of the West

↑ Civilization-consciousness

Non-Wests tend to shape the world in non-Western ways

Why civilization will clash?

Cultural characteristics & differences less mutable; Political & economic issues can be compromised & resolved

Increase in economic regionalism: Successful regionalism reinforce civilization consciousness; Economic regionalism succeed only in a common civilization

Two levels for Clash of Civilization

Clash of Civilization occurs at two levels:

Micro-level – struggle over the control of territory and each other

Macro-level – promote particular political & religious values.

Kin-Country Syndrome

✷World of civilization => World of double standards

One standard to kin-countries & different one to others

✷Conflicts & Violence within same civilization less intense & less likely to expand

Main Civilizations

The 7 main civilizations are:

Latin America

Confucian

Japanese

Islamic

Hindu

Slavic - Orthodox

Western

Main Civilizations

• Japanese: Shintoism religion, not open-

minded

•Islamic: with human and universal

dimensions, very generous

•Confucian: introspective, self-conscious, and

intuition; feel at ease in poverty and find their

delight in the pursuit of the Way

• Hindu: Composed of diverse doctrines, cults,

and ways of life.

• Slavic/Orthodox: Eastern and Central

Europe and the Balkans; Follow Mostly the

orthodox and catholic churches

• Latin American: Are the latin speaking

countries in America; Mainly Roman Catholic

Main Civilizations

Modernization v.s., and, or Westernization?

Western Civilization

The classical legacy

Western Christianity

European language

Separation of spiritual and temporary authority

Rule of law

Representative bodies

individualism

Modernization v.s. Westernization?

WHY doesn´t Modernization and technical

development require Westernization?

• Individual level

• Societal level

Temporal Westernization

Western values used by the government

only until they are powerful enough to

denounce them as human rights

imperialism.

• “second generation indigenization”

• democracy paradox

Future tendencies

• As all politics is local politics, all power is local power

• from the warren state phase to a universal state phase:

held together by a compound of federations, confederations, and international regimes

The West versus the Rest

The West in effect is using international institutions, military power and economic resources to run the world in ways that will maintain Western predominance, protect Western interests and promote Western political and economic values.

"the values that are most important inthe West are least important worldwide."

The West versus the Rest

Responses to the west: Non-Western states course of isolation

Join the west and accept it institutions and values

attempt to "balance" the West by developing economic and military power and cooperating with other non-Western societies against the West

Conflicts arised by Civilizations

TORN COUTRIESSome countries have a fair degree of cultural homogeneity but are divided over whether their society belongs to one civilization or another.

Leaders pursue a bandwagoning strategy but the history, culture and traditions of their countries are non-Western.

Typical torn countries are:Turkey, Mexico, Russia

Why the Author wrote the Article

We suppose that Huntington

wrote this article because of the

diverse thinking about the

nature of global culture and

because of his past working as

the director of the Center for

International Affairs.

Conclusion

•Differences between civilizations are real and important and civilization-conscious is increasing;

•Conflicts between civilizations will supplant ideological conflicts;

•Western civilization is powerful and has the majority, while the non-western civilizations, tend to modernize theirs, trying to maintain there culture and values.

Implication for the Western policy:

short term advantage &

long term accommodation

Conclusion

Short term advantage:

• cooperation and unity

• cooperative relations with Russia & Japan

• local inter-civilization conflicts

• limit the military strength and conflicts of Confucian & Islamic states

• military capabilities & superiority

• strengthen international institutions that reflect and legitimate Western interests & values

Conclusion

Long term accommodation:

• maintain economic & military power

• Understand other civilizations’ religious & philosophical assumptions

• identify elements of commonality between Western & other civilizations

Conclusion

• http://www.isesco.org.ma/pub/ISTD/Eng/20/P2.htm

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_issues_in_Japan

• http://www.crvp.org/book/Series03/III-14/chapter_i.htm

• http://www.religioustolerance.org/confuciu.htm

Bibliography:

Do you agree with the thesis?

Class Discusion

Do you think that these thesis are up-to-date?

Class Discusion

Do you think that the 9/11 was caused by a clash of

civilizations?

Class Discusion