The Clash of Civilizations? A Critique

After the disintegration of former Soviet Union in 1989, debate started among the intellectuals as well as policy makers in USA about the future shape of world politics and role of the US in it. In this regard, early voice was Francis Fukuyama’s “The End of History” which focused on political ideologies as the main unit of analysis. To him, after the end of cold war, western liberal democracy has emerged as the final form of government. While participating in this debate, Samuel P. Huntington wrote his renowned article “The Clash of Civilizations?” in Foreign Affairs in 1993. Huntington gave an alternative interpretation about the future shape of world politics in the postcold war era. He took difference in civilization as one of the important sources of conflicts in the world. In this article three important issues regarding Huntington’s “The Clash of Civilizations? have been addressed. These issues include conceptual strengths of Huntington’s thesis “The Clash of Civilizations?” ; academic strengths and weak points in “The Clash of Civilizations?”. Huntington’s “The Clash of Civilizations?” has also been analysed in this context of emerging contemporary international political system. To conclude, Huntington’s “The Clash of Civilizations?” was an alternative interpretation of the possible emergence of international political system. It was a response to liberals among US policy circles who were viewing liberal democracy as final form of government. While taking civilization as unit of analysis, Huntington attempted to explain emerging structure of international politics and American role in it. However, Huntington is futuristic in his approach.