The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order (Book Review by Samuel P. Huntington)

THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS AND THE REMAKING OF WORLD ORDER: BOOK REVIEW
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Introduction
The book The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, written by Samuel P. Huntington, discusses issues on a new world order. Huntington hypothesized a theory that would be easily applicable to explain changing political and social worldviews in a diverse world. Therefore, his analysis includes the shifting relationships among different countries and regions concerning their religion, culture and politics. Interpreting such relationships is difficult due to the complexity of the individual ideals and beliefs held across other parts of the world. Aspects such as war have plagued the world over centuries with competing interests and the determination for global domination. Huntington thus interprets different types of evolution in the world in addition to several policies that can be applicable today.
Summary 
In the first part, Huntington outlines the various paradigms previously used to explain global political phenomena. By dividing the world into different types of civilizations, the author aimed to identify the world's reality after the Cold War. In the analysis, eight major civilizations were identified including Western, African, Latin American, Islamic, Hindu, Orthodox, Sinic, and Japanese . These new civilizations represent the world today with significant differences in both cultural, political and religious beliefs. Therefore, prior to 1500 A.D., changes in civilizations occurred significantly slower due to geographical distinctions and primitive technology . The different changes were mainly fueled by the development of research and new technologies that propelled the various civilizations. Western culture predominantly developed faster in early times, thus leading to its expansion into other parts of the world where it aimed to dominate. Huntington explains that,Intermittent or limited multidirectional encounters among civilizations gave way to the sustained, overpowering, unidirectional impact of the West on all other civilizations .
This can thus explain the extensive spread of western culture across various geographical borders and the immense power held by these ideologies. However, the development of other civilizations has led to a dramatic shift from Western-led ideologies. Thus, the notion of western superiority created some sense of animosity that led to the shifts experienced in the world today. With more civilizations embracing their individuality and the modernization in the world, western domination significantly reduces worldwide. 
In the second part of the book, Huntington outlines the fading power of Western civilization. The perceived decline of western powers such as the United States mainly lies in factors such as leadership. Furthermore, modernization across Asian societies has led to little to no dependence on the western world. The development of these economies has also been significantly quicker than that of western countries with the expectation that countries such as China would become a global leader. Huntington states that, 
Britain and the United States fifty-eight years and forty-seven years, respectively, to double their per capita output, but Japan did it in thirty-three years, Indonesia in seventeen, South Korea in eleven, and China in ten . 
This shows the significant shift in dependence on western civilizations due to the economic development experienced in other countries. This supports the author's assertion on the idea of reduced Westernization and increased modernization as the new driving force in global politics. Furthermore, religion has increasingly played an important role in politics with more countries embracing it in the absence of proper political ideologies . For instance, Islam has continually played an important role in middle eastern countries that have religion embedded in the political structure.
The next part of the book discusses the onset of the Cold war and its impact on the identity of different countries. With the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a show of superiority, other countries had to align with either side that fit their beliefs. Therefore, some countries opted to follow communism while others followed capitalism, thus creating significant rifts among regions . This led to the formation of regional blocs such as the European Union comprising countries in Europe, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the North American Fair Trade Agreement (NAFTA). With these new civilizations centered around cultural beliefs, they further required a base from core states that acted as leaders to guide the other member states. This thus distinguishes the different civilizations due to the differences displayed. Countries that have not engaged in such development have thus stagnated and are yet to achieve development compared to countries mentioned above under different agreements. 
Lastly, the book also discusses issues regarding impending clashes of civilization, especially between non-western countries and the western ones...