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The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1996

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Index of Terms

Balkanization

In Huntington’s framework, balkanization refers to the fragmentation of states or regions into smaller, often hostile units, typically along ethnic, religious, or cultural lines. The term originates from the disintegration of the Balkans, a region Huntington uses to illustrate the dangers of fault line conflicts between civilizations. He sees balkanization as a symptom of civilizational pluralism within a single political entity, where incompatible identities make national unity difficult to sustain. Huntington uses this concept to warn against the instability that arises when states span multiple civilizational boundaries.

Civilization

Huntington defines a civilization as the broadest cultural grouping of people, characterized by shared language, religion, customs, institutions, and historical consciousness. It is a meaningful and enduring identity that transcends national borders and political ideologies. Civilizations, in Huntington’s theory, are the primary actors in global politics in the post-Cold War era. He identifies several major civilizations such as Western, Islamic, Sinic, and Hindu, then argues that conflicts will increasingly arise between them due to fundamental cultural differences.

Core Civilization

A core civilization is a dominant cultural entity that has a leading or organizing state, known as a “core state,” which shapes and represents its interests globally. Examples include the United States for the West, China for the Sinic world, and Russia for Orthodox civilization.

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