506: Clash of Civilizations Book Review

506: Book Review 01
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Introduction
Samuel Huntington in the Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order argues that civilization has become one of the most important aspects of geopolitics. Since the fall of communism, civilization has influenced the global political scene with political actors more likely to be in conflict because of clash in civilization. Huntington further highlights division of civilization zones, characterized with divergent political ideologies and cultural identities. Nonetheless, countries will not necessarily go to war because of the clash in civilizations. To highlight on changes in Global politics after the Cold War was the reconfiguration of cultural identities, and this has mostly been prominent in countries that experienced colonialism, the former Soviet bloc and the Muslim world. As such, a geopolitical framework is better in understanding how conflicts emerge and continue. Huntington’s geopolitical framework is the division of civilization zones pitying western civilization against other civilizations. This is a critical book review of the Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, highlighting on how cultural and civilization identities have influenced Global politics.
Summary
In order to understand the clash of civilization, Huntington points out the significance of the fall of communism, which realigned relations of diverse geopolitical entities. The Cold War influenced relations between the West and the former Soviet republics, but it is the emerging cultural identity that characterize the new era in post Cold war times. The author goes to assert that cultural identities represent civilization identities and they influence conflicts, integration and disintegration for the various civilization zones. It is noteworthy that Western civilization cultural influenced has waned, while the East Asian region has grown economically allowing the nations to assert more influence in the global scene including military power.
Huntington explores the rising power of other civilizations as indication that conflicts may arise as the westerners try to reassert their power. The revival of non western power represents power distribution, since civilization has often been accompanied with flourishing of cultures. The kin- country rallying has emerged as strategy for which countries with the same civilizations reassert themselves in the Arab world, and this highlights the clash of civilizations as a reflection of cultural identities. Since there is no universal civilization, it follows that western hegemony is less pronounced than before. Huntington proposes that as people seek their identities they are more likely to view ‘others’ as enemies, and this scenario typically plays out in situations where there are fault lines between civilizations. Modernization has revitalized on western culture, where economic might has led to people to be more attracted to these cultures, based on the power to influence highlighting the benefits of both hard and soft powers to civilizations.
In a multipolar world with global players, the clash of civilizations has become more prominent for the differing civilizations pitying the Western civilizations against these civilizations. Huntington highlights on the shifting balance of power from the Western world, but also notes the importance of reaffirming the identity of the west. The Islamic world has asserted influence, and the wars of civilizations pitying Muslims have been more intense. In essence, Huntington points out that in the post war period, the clash of civilizations may become intense because of cultural identity. Even though, culture is a unifying factor, it is also divisive as differences shape interests and antagonisms. The clash between the most powerful civilizations and challenging civilizations is the new battle ground for the clash, and Huntington suggests that Western civilization has been powerful for long time since the rise of Christendom. The belief in God was also tied to defending interests including territories, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots, and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord”.
Critique
According to Huntington, there are various civilizations in the world, based on cultural identity and religious following. In the west the Western, Orthodox and Latin American civilizations are the most prominent while the Buddhist, Sinic, Hindu, Japanese and Islamic are in the Asian region, both Islamic and African civilizations are also found in Africa. There are clashes within civilizations, but the most intense are those between civilizations in a more pluralistic world. Even though Huntington presents a universalist explanation on western culture, he is mostly concerned with the American identity. As such, the author is right to mention that the decline in Western civilization is closely aligned with the American identity. This narrative oversimplifies the relations among western power, but takes into account America’s leadership role, with NATO a prime example of an organization which the US has used to assert its influence and advance her strategic interests.
Huntington views the west as the apex of civilization, and there have been various responses to modernization and the west. As such, the author is correct to observe that westernization has promoted modernization in non western countries. Responses have been varied from those rejecting westernization, while others only accepting modernization. The case of Japan, which largely rejected western modernization, from the 15th to the mid 19th century illustrates outright rejection of westernization. The clash of civilization is apparent with Muslim civilization for who to modernize there has been a need to accept westernization in some instances, but rejection in other. However over time modernization has led to resurgence of other civilizations which have then wielded power than before, meaning that ...