The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order

At the heart of The Clash of Civilizations is Huntington’s argument that the post-Cold War world will be shaped not by ideological or economic divisions, but by cultural and civilizational ones. Huntington defines civilizations as the broadest cultural groupings of people, distinguished by language, history, religion, customs, and institutions. In examining these civilizations and their interactions, Huntington seeks to understand the nature of civilizational identity and conflict. 

Huntington identifies major civilizations—Western, Sinic (Chinese), Islamic, Hindu, Orthodox, Latin American, African, and Japanese—as distinct and durable units of human organization. Unlike nation-states or political ideologies, which Huntington sees as transitory, civilizations are described as long-standing and rooted in deep historical memory. This sense of enduring identity is central to Huntington’s thesis: As ideological conflict fades in the aftermath of the Cold War, “civilizational consciousness” (156) reasserts itself as the principal axis of global alignment and tension. He argues that people increasingly identify with those who share their cultural and religious heritage, leading to what he calls a realignment of politics along cultural lines.

Huntington suggests that, as contact between civilizations intensifies through trade, migration, media, and military interaction, so too does the potential for misunderstanding and hostility. The boundaries between civilizations, which he calls “fault lines” (20), become flashpoints for conflict, especially where different religions or values systems meet.