In 1993, Huntington theorised that cultural differences between civilisations, rather than ideological differences, would be the primary source of future global conflict. Huntington argued that the world would not divide primarily on political, economic or ideological differences but rather on cultural differences. This paper will contend with Huntington’s original thesis and apply it in accordance to recent and current events and will argue that Islam is not a threat to Western civilisation as it portrayed to be in the article.
Huntington’s premise is that the world is now a different place after the Cold War. Huntington argues that the Cold War had divided the world into three parts: The free world, a world led by the United States followed
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Huntington’s hypothesis can be viewed today as xenophobic and nativism, populist and fundamentally flawed because it does not take into consideration what people in these ‘cultures’ are subjected to do due to external factors. In other words, Huntington has committed a Fundamental Attribution Error. In a world hinged on uniting people and communities and a focus on acceptance and multi-culturalism, Huntington’s work creates a debate that argues the opposite. Globalisation and modernity remove any real notions that borders still exist as society becomes a globally connected …show more content…
Huntington claimed that Muslims were not attached to their nation-state (not intrinsically nationalistic) but instead, revolved and gravitated towards their religion. Huntington also further argues that the Islamic culture is inhospitable to Western ideals such as liberalism, women rights, individualism and democracy. While this argument can be used to support the reasoning behind the number of terror attacks performed on Western nations such as 9/11 and more recently, the attacks on Paris and Brussels, these are few and far between and do not represent the greater Islamic population. According to DeSilver (Pew Research Center, 2013), there are an estimated 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, and approximately 47 million that are either born or have emigrated to North America and Europe. These numbers alone suggest that if culture clashes were a real threat to Western ideology, there would be far more civil unrest than what is currently witnessed. What these population figures illustrate is that Islam can be compatible with the
Throughout history, countries have dissented and disagreed. In The Decline of Radicalism written by Daniel J. Boorstin, he stated that disagreement creates debate and dissent does not. Many events in history shows Daniel J. Boorsitin’s beliefs regarding World War I, the American Revolution, and Native American’s land stolen from Europeans. During 1990’s, many European countries wanted power around the world.
He states, “For an empathetic understanding of the present generation of Muslims one has to recognize that most of them do not accept Western critics’ radical reinterpretations of some parts of Muslim history” (Shepard, 5). Wilson had begun to understand this after countless times of her husband denying the Western depictions of Islam. He states “I can’t believe you’re going to teach American history…. This is exactly the kind of Western cultural takeover Egypt is turning a blind eye on” (Wilson, 40).
In chapters six and nine of Annotations, Professor Bazian provides a historical analysis of the dichotomies within race (in Confronting Race in America ch.9) and religion and philosophies (in “Islamic Reformation” and the West living in Our Minds ch.6). In chapter six, he explores the idea of an “Islamic Reformation,” a European idea inspired by Martin Luther’s actions and his disagreement with the Catholic Church. There has been a push for “Islamic Reformation” on the basis of political and social reformation. But as previously noted, this idea was initially introduced by Europeans. Professor Bazian argues that the way this “Reformation” has been constructed is critical because it was initiated by an external agent and it is based on a European
However, this article tells the world that Muslims are suffering and grieving for the world too. The terrorist committing these acts “cannot be justified on the basis of the 1400 years of Islamic tradition,” (Safi, par.
hroughout history many changes are made in the political systems. Empires rise and fall and other countries get conquered. Asia had some continuity in its political systems, but also many changes. From 600 B.C., to 1450 A.D. many dynasties, leaders, and political systems changed in Asia as well as trying to have some continuity.
There are many instances in the past decade in which Muslims
PARAGRAPH #1: INTRO: The Crusades impacted many people and major religious groups negatively and positively from Europe to the Middle East. MAIN POINT A: Trade in science, ideas, and goods (positively/to West)
The style of writing portrayed in this nonfiction journal best relates to a dystopian future for our society. The purpose of this writing would be to show that the world could be a much simpler place to live in if civilization was treated equally. With everyone born as humans no matter the color of our skin or the ethnicity that we were raised in it raises many to question why we cannot treat one another equally and why we do not get along or respect one another. While we are not any closer to figuring out why our world kills its own kind over feuds, I believe religion plays a big factor in why certain cultures are enemies. One culture and one religion has to always be better than the other there is no equality.
In Behind the Backlash: Muslim Americans After 9/11 the author states, “Arabs are caught between Census categories (where they appear as "white") and reality, between ‘us’ and ‘them.’ (Suhay136). Because of 9/11 many Arab/Muslim Americans are placed into another category, resulting in many Arab/Muslims feeling unwanted in their own lands even though they hold US passports. Often times the 9/11 attacks is said to have united the Americans, but many Muslim/Arab Americans who lived in the US for many years were not allowed to share the same grief many Americans did, but instead, many Muslim Americans were looked upon as terrorists
As a result of their emigration, America was now viewed as “multiethnic and multiracial” and “defined in terms of culture and creed” (Huntington 1). On the contrary, when people traveled across the border from Mexico, their culture was not so widely accepted. Mexican traditions and values were seen as a “serious challenge to America’s traditional identity” (Huntington 2). The “original settlers” of America were incredibly open to people travelling from Europe, but when people came from Latin America, they were
During the First Crusade, the Pope called for all of Western Europe to come together and fight against the Pagans of the East. According to H. E. J. Crowley, “The First Crusade was the culmination of the long process which there took shape, in Western Europe, the idea of a holy war against the heathens, sponsored by the church”. Crowley supports the idea that all of Western Europe was coming together to fight the heathens, who were the Muslims of the East. This conflict of East versus West would carry into the modern era and the War on Terror. Before 9/11, there were terrorist attacks in Turkey, Denmark, India, and Argentina.
The book deals with the history of Islam and provides arguments over the liberal interpretation of the religion. The book puts the blame on the Western imperialism and the self-serving misinterpretations of Islamic law by the past scholars for the controversies which are taking place within Islam. The work by Reza Aslan challenges the clash of civilizations. The book
“The Islamic teachings have left great traditions for equitable and gentle dealings and behavior, and inspire people with nobility and tradition” (H.G. Wells). The society and world around us are greatly influenced by the muslim people, or more specifically, the influence of the Islamic world. Their impact on the world is a controversial topic and their role is also often seen as negative. People are constantly oppressing minorities, but without the Muslims or teachings of Islam, the world wouldn’t be the same. This group of people achieved so many things that are considered necessary to our world today, and not many people recognize that.
Our academic disciplines, journals, movies, and our whole cultural system is highly affected by the inevitability of the conflict between 'Islam ' and 'West ' (Adib-Moghaddam, 2011). This " clash regime" is a cultural artifact which is positioned in different strata of society because it is made up by a system of interdependent discourses that disperse into society and form a powerful 'clash mentality (Adib-Moghadam, 2011, p.5). This clash regime has constituted a main part of today 's national and international political culture (Adiv-Moghaddam, 2011, p.5). Therefore, European culture gained its own strength and identity by setting itself off against the Orient (Said, 1978). According to Macfie (2002), one of the convictions that is widely held in orientalism is the belief that Islam unlike other religions, is inherently violent its followers believe in the doctrine of Holy War or Jihad.
this statement, it does not answer my question. The problem was not that the text on multicultural counseling failed to address me as an ‘ethnic’ minority or that my position was lost between the black and white, but rather, why we need to identify our selves on the basis of our ‘race’ or colour?. As I thought about my own childhood and origin, I realise that I was brought up with strong humanistic values, by both rational parents that were not ‘religious’. Although I am a Muslim and was brought up as one but with hen site I can see that I was brought up with a deeply developed conscious and inward teaching of Sufism which is the heart of Islam.