The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order

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.

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. Core civilizations often exercise influence over other states in their cultural sphere and play crucial roles in mediating or escalating conflicts along civilizational lines. Huntington emphasizes that these core states are essential to managing relations within and between civilizations, particularly in fault line disputes.

Fault line wars are conflicts that occur between states or groups from different civilizations, typically along geographic or cultural boundaries. These wars are prolonged, identity-driven, and often involve intense religious or ethnic animosity. Huntington argues that such conflicts are the most likely form of violence in the post-Cold War world, replacing ideological wars. Examples include the wars in the Balkans, Kashmir, and between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which Huntington sees as manifestations of deeper civilizational divides.

The Islamic Resurgence refers to the widespread revival of Islamic identity, practice, and political movements across the Muslim world, beginning in the late 20th century. Huntington interprets this resurgence as a civilizational reaction to Western dominance and secular modernity. It involves not only a return to religious observance but also the assertion of Islamic principles in politics, law, and society. He sees this trend as part of a broader pattern of cultural reaffirmation and a challenge to Western universality, contributing to the West-Islam conflict dynamic.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a Western military alliance that Huntington views as a civilizational institution rooted in shared Western values and identity. He argues that NATO functions not just as a security pact, but as a mechanism for maintaining Western cohesion in a culturally divided world. Huntington is skeptical of expanding NATO to include countries outside Western civilization, such as Turkey or former Soviet republics, warning that it could undermine the alliance’s cultural integrity. In his framework, NATO exemplifies how civilizational identity underpins geopolitical alliances.

Shia Islam is one of the two major branches of Islam, characterized by a distinct theological and historical tradition centered on the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad’s family, particularly his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. Huntington notes that Shia populations are often politically marginalized in Sunni-majority countries, contributing to intra-civilizational tensions. Although Huntington treats Islamic civilization as a single entity in global terms, he acknowledges significant internal divisions, including the Shia-Sunni split. He highlights these sectarian differences as a complicating factor within the broader Islamic Resurgence.

Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and represents the dominant religious tradition in most Muslim-majority countries. It emphasizes the consensus of the Muslim community and the legitimacy of the early caliphs, contrasting with Shia emphasis on the Prophet’s lineage. Huntington acknowledges Sunni dominance in the Islamic world but also notes that Sunni-Shia conflicts can influence fault line wars and shape alliances within the broader civilization. While focusing on civilizational unity, he recognizes that internal religious differences can both weaken and radicalize Islamic political movements.

The West, in Huntington’s terms, is a distinct civilization rooted in Western Christianity, the classical heritage of Greece and Rome, the Enlightenment, and the development of liberal democracy and secularism. It includes North America and Western Europe, with cultural offshoots in places like Australia and New Zealand. Huntington emphasizes that the West is both a source of global power and a target of civilizational rivalry, especially from Islamic and Sinic civilizations. He argues that Western efforts to universalize its values provoke resistance and that the West must recognize its cultural boundaries to avoid overreach.