Lecture 4

The Clash of Civilizations & Future of Humanity: 

The Clash of Civilizations & Future of Humanity Prof. Dr. Anis Ahmad* * Dr. Anis is meritorious professor and presently Vice Chancellor, Riphah International University, Islamabad. He is also Vice-Chairman, Institute of Policy Studies and Editor Quarterly Journal West & Islam, Islamabad. He can be contacted at anis@riphah.edu.pk anis@anisahmad.com

1. Introduction: 

1. Introduction Hypothetically, Huntington believes that “the fundamental source of conflict in this new world will not be primarily ideological or primarily economic. The great division among humankind and dominating source of conflict will be cultural…The fault lines between civilizations will be the battle lines of the future” Samuel Huntington, “The clash of civilizations”, Foreign Affairs, Vol 72 No 3. 1993, P 186-194.

2. Why a Clash or Conflict: 

2. Why a Clash or Conflict Differences among civilizations an basic (History, language, traditions, religion). World is becoming a smaller place, with civilizational consciousness leading to animosity. The process of economic modernization and social change is causing separation and division among people. Efforts are made to un-secularize the world through a revival of religion in middle class youth. Asianization in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore is followed by Islamization in some muslim countries.

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In some non-Western countries de-westernization is taking place; while in some countries American culture is also popularised. Cultural differences are hard to compromise Religion also divides people. Efforts by the West to promote its values of democracy and liberalism as universal values and its military dominance is going to have a reaction.

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While ideological division of Europe has disappeared the cultural division between Western Christianity and Islam has re-emerged. “The most prominent form of this co-operation is Confucian-Islamic connection, that has emerged to challenge Western interests, values and powers” China is rapidly increasing its military spending with modernization of its armed forces. It is purchasing weapons from the former Soviet Union and is also a major exporter of arms and weapon technology.. A Confucian-Islamic military connection has thus come into being to counter military power of the West.

3. What to do: 

3. What to do “In the short term it is clearly in the interest of the West to promote greater co-operation and unity within its own civilization particularly between its European and North American Components…to limit the expansion of military strength of Confucian and Islamic states; to exploit differences and conflicts among Confucian and Islamic States; to support other civilizations, groups, sympathetic to Western values and interests”

4. Major Short Comings in Huntington Thesis: 

4. Major Short Comings in Huntington Thesis The basic assumption of West as a monolithic unity is not historically supported. That civilization are exclusive and cannot co-exist is a historical fallacy. That West must dominate and prevail over Confucian-Islamic block speaks for a pure Capitalistic-Imperialistic thesis and mind set.

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It provides theoretical basis for unipolarism. It does not allow multi-polarism, co-existence of civilizations and cultures. It confers, unilaterally, ultimacy to Western values of liberal Democracy and Capitalism and does not allow other value systems to exist. It also makes attempt to create rift between China and friendly Muslim nations.

5. What is to be done: 

5. What is to be done Cultural Pluralism and dialogue to be promoted. Search for global universal values in neighboring civilizations. Unified strategy against hegemony and unilateralism of the imperial power of the U.S Ethical and Moral force against the military might of the so called West.

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Thank You Dated: Feb, 2005