Lecture # 11: Clash of Civilization

Presented by Abul Kalam Azad

Lecturer, GEDNorthern University Bangladesh

E-mail: kalamadd@gmail.com

Huntington’s theory of Clash of Civilization

Professor Samuel P. Huntington in his The Clash of Civilizations?, gave a theory concerning the probable chaos and conflict among the World civilizations. He postulated that the clash of civilizations will be the final stage of successive contradictions of modern world. He reasoned that since Western world took place in the centre of world power, they will attempt to continue their military dominance and economic progress. As a matter of fact, the clash among World civilizations will be inevitable. Huntington also said that this clash will be more severe due to cold war among different powers

regarding geographical location and political ideology. He, especially mentioned the history of 1300 years struggle among Christian and Muslim and so detected Islam as the enemy of Western civilization. Huntington classified civilization into nine categories:1. Western Civilization e.g., Western

Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand;

2. Latin American Civilization;3. Negroid African Civilization;4. Chinese (Confucian) Civilization

excluding Tibet and Mongolian;5. Hindu Civilization excluding Kashmir;6. Buddhist Civilization of Tibet, Myanmar

and Mongolia;

7. Orthodox Christian Civilization (Greece, Rome, Rasia);

8. Japanese Civilization; and9. Muslim Civilization (5 Republics of

Soviet Union e.g., Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan), Pakistan, Kashmir, Iraq, Middle East & North African Arabian countries, Eastern African Somalia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Huntington predicted the clash between i) Western and Confucian civilization and ii) Western and Muslim civilization. The second one will more dangerous and indispensable.

Criticism of Huntington’s Thesis

Prof. Edward Said seriously criticized Huntington’s thesis by remarking that this theory was the instrument of continuing the negative image to the Muslims and of deepening the clash among all the civilizations, which created this idea “We versus they”.

Irani President Muhammad Khatami proposed “Dialogue Among Civilizations”. He also remarked that we should concentrate to the positive discussion concerning civilizations instead of negative one. As a response of the proposal, Kofi Anan declared 2001 as the “Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations”

After 9/11, G. W. Bush , that is why, decided to invade Afghanistan alleging against Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda. Next year, Bush declared Iran, Iraq and Communist North Korea as axis of evil , and attacked Iraq.

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