civilization clash

The urge to generate theories as a response to global events is often projected by tensions between hypotheses and actual world situations. After the Cold War ended, international relations scholars sought a new paradigm that could provide an overview that defined the picture of world politics and civilisation. Hunington's Clash of Civilizations thesis is one of the academic models that, following the Cold War, gave the idea of globalization legitimacy. First of all, I consider that the theory significantly endeavored to provide a new paradigm of international politics by contrasting state-centric realistic model with system dominated framework, by concentrating on cultural and religious aspects of civilization. The model attests that the fault lines between civilization are multiple and dependent on the individual’s political and social values. Besides, Hunington further points out recommendations that the US and other nations should put in place to avoid extremism including improving immigration and accepting the minorities to enable cohesive interactions.

In addition, the theory denounced multiculturalism claiming that it triggered tensions and disconnect between groups and states thus giving an opportunity for the privileged to take advantage of minority thus breeding war. As one of the globalization paradigms, the hypothesis views the world as the community dominated by different economic, political, and cultural groups. In the Post-Cold era, culture is the most significant civilization identity that can cause groups and states to fight for. As a result, the emphasis that the paradigm places on culture is bound and transforms it into the most significant globalization model.

The clash of civilization model has greatly shaped my world view. Even though technology has facilitated global interactions and interdependency of people across the globe, the factor of culture and social affiliation of individuals should not be overlooked. Civilization affects the values of people differently and the response given by people and communities is highly dependent on their cultural and political affiliations, essentially religion. As people tend to define themselves in relation to religion and ethnicity, they are more prone to have an ‘our’ rather than ‘their’ view of issues. In addition, it is prudent to embrace diversity without allowing it to define how we interact with each other since it is the differences which make the world interesting.

Personally, I will try to interpret and apply the different values with respect to religion and ethnicity of the people I interact with instead of focusing on making them adopt and assimilate my beliefs. Having a clear understanding of their perception towards civilization and the way it affects their views in different aspects of their lives it is easier to understand why they behave in a certain manner. It will make the interactions more healthy and productive.

Professionally, the model shapes the understanding of globalization policies. For instance, the European nations have more stringent immigration policies towards the Muslim nations compared to their counterparts. Such policies demonstrate the paradigms assertions that relationships and conflicts between the states and individuals are dependent on their religious and ethnic affiliations. Besides, in order to counter the effects of differences in cultural orientation, policies should consider the level of civilization of the states so that they are more cohesive and suitable to befit each individual irrespective of their beliefs.

To sum up, the theory has generated varying values on inter-state relationships. The clash of civilization theory which was described by Ηuntingtοn is important and relevant as it changes the worldview of every person. Besides, it can help to understand the essence of globalization policies.





































Bibliography

Fox, James. “Ethnic Minorities and the Clash of Civilizations: A Quantitative Analysis of Huntington's Thesis.” British Journal of Political Science 22 (2002): 434.



Ηuntingtοn, Samuel P. The Clash of Civilization and Remaking the World Order. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.