影像墨爾本

This book “The Clash of Civilization and the Remaking of the World Order” is probably one of the most prominent and provocative book I have ever read in terms of international relations and politics. Written in 1993 by Samuel P. Huntington, a political scientist at Harvard University and a former NSC (National Security Council) aide to former U.S. President Bill Clinton, this book has radically transformed my present view of international relations and politics since the end of the Cold-War in the early 90’s.

I guess the world of politics changed greatly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, as it signaled the end of “The Iron Curtin” and Communist ideology, as Western capitalist countries basked in the triumph of western capitalism over communist ideology, and anticipating the eventual global trend of market economies, free-trade agreements and avocations of human rights. However, Huntington offered a more pessimistic view, with the era of competing ideologies to be replaced by a new struggle amongst civilizations, as people are separated and identified by their interests and loyalties along cultural terms. As he states in his book, during the Cold-War the question was asked “which side are you on?” is now replaced by “who are you?”

The book dissects the world that consists of 7-8 cultural civilizations rather than a collection of nation states. It specifies a number of existing and major cultures; Western, Eastern Orthodox, Islamic, Hindu, Chinese (Sinic), Japanese, Latin American and African whereby each compete for dominance and survival. Huntington views that Islam, the West and Sinic based states will constitute as “the most dangerous clashes of the future” as a result due to Western arrogance, Islamic intolerance and Sinic assertiveness.

The massive population growth and the spread of Islam during the last century have been phenomenal. With its current climate of international affairs, the West is faced with an Islamic world that is breeding a growing group of extreme fundamentalist, poised with hatred and resentment towards the West for its muddling of affairs in regards to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Certainly in my view it is not helped by the West’s pro-Israel foreign policies due to the neo-conservatives and many influential pro-Israel lobbyists in Washington. However, the intolerance of Muslims towards other religions and cultures are also to blame, with Islam, “a different civilization whose people are convinced of the superiority of their culture and are obsessed with the inferiority of their power”, thus making the future prospects of reconciliation and accommodation between two civilizations not looking promising.

If we go back through history, the two cultures have always conflicted since the days of the Crusades and Jihads by both sides during the Middle- Ages in an attempt to secure Jerusalem. Personally, I believe there will be no harmony between the two until the issue of Israel and Palestine is resolved, which not helped by influential leaders of the west claiming ‘the war of terror goes on’ while growing radical Islamic clerics glorifying suicide bombers killing innocent victims to advance their cause. As quoted by a friend of mine “a terrorist from one person’s view maybe viewed as a freedom fighter by another”, thus, the cycle of violence continues.

As for China, its sphere of influence will expand over surrounding Confucius/Buddhist states as it attempts to reassert its past glories and erase the painful histories it has endured during the last century. It will re-establish itself once again as the “Middle Kingdom” with surrounding neighbors paying homage to China due to its unstoppable economy and its growing sphere of influence across Asia as a result of economic growth, with its military dominance derived as a by-product of its economy. Conversely, this will begin a decline of the West’s military influence across Asia which China has traditionally held and is now attempting to reclaim, a factor that the West will not like however will reluctantly accept.

Japan, the lone island nation will be at its crossroads as to where they should depend for its own economic survival, after 50 years of US dependence since the conclusion of World War II, it will eventually inevitably reignite and switch its allegiance to China which existed ever since medieval times. The only challenge that I can see that might face China is the other upcoming superpower from the south, India, which also an expansive population and itself a growing influence in the South Asian region. The potential for conflict between these two civilizations are of future possibilities as both will be convinced to assert its own influence and controls over central Asia in an attempt to secure the natural resources that power their huge economy.

In regards to Africa, it will continue on as a continent ruined by civil wars and conflicts, as nations created and drawn after the end of colonialism does not match its diverse geographic culture. The nation states of present Africa do not reflect the reality of its people ruled and bound by the roots of their traditional tribal clans and kinsmanship rather than the emphasis over state nationalism. As for Latin America, due to its lack of a leading core-state, it dependence and loyalty towards the West will continue to forge and solidify due to its substantial population having the same cultural links tracing back to Europe as per Huntington’s theory of cultural and ethnic identification.

In conclusion, the West will find itself losing its dominance it once had as a result of the rise of Islam and the competitiveness of China and its cultural partners. Faced with the huge problem a general decline of population growth amongst the West, its task is as per what the book states ‘is not to attempt to reshape other civilizations in the image of the West....but to preserve, protect and renew the unique qualities of Western civilization”.