Since its initial publication, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order has become a classic work of international relations and one of the most influential books ever written about foreign affairs. An insightful and powerful analysis of the forces driving global politics, it is as indispensable to our understanding of American foreign policy today as the day it was published. In the words of former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, it “has earned a place on the shelf of only about a dozen or so truly enduring works that provide the quintessential insights necessary for a broad understanding of world affairs in our time.” Samuel Huntington explains how clashes between civilizations are the greatest threat to world peace but also how an international order based on civilizations is the best safeguard against war. Events since the publication of the book have proved the wisdom of that analysis. The 9/11 attacks and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have demonstrated the threat of civilizations but have also shown how vital international cross-civilization cooperation is to restoring peace. As ideological distinctions among nations have been replaced by cultural differences, world politics has been reconfigured. Across the globe, new conflicts—and new cooperation—have replaced the old order of the Cold War era. The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order explains how the population explosion in Muslim countries and the economic rise of East Asia are changing global politics. These developments challenge Western dominance, promote opposition to supposedly “universal” Western ideals, and intensify intercivilization conflict over such issues as nuclear proliferation, immigration, human rights, and democracy. The Muslim population surge has led to many small wars throughout Eurasia, and the rise of China could lead to a global war of civilizations. Huntington offers a strategy for the West to preserve its unique culture and emphasizes the need for people everywhere to learn to coexist in a complex, multipolar, muliticivilizational world.
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"After the balance of power, the international arena consist of balance of 'civilation'. The more globalised world is the more close one to their civilation. 'Religion' and 'eastern and western'culture that identify in this book as 'civilasation' provoke the idea of 'clash'. Since in the international politics always has the idea of 'balace of power', the power now is between to civilasation which might be 'right' but might be not. This idea has actulally been explain way before this book exsist so it is not quite surprising."
— Indah (4 out of 5 stars)
“The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order is one of the most important books to have emerged since the end of the Cold War.”
— Henry A. Kissinger“A benchmark for informed speculation on those always fascinating questions: Just where are we in history? What hidden hand is controlling our destiny?…A searching reflection on our global state.”
— New York Times“The book is dazzling in its scope and grasp of the intricacies of contemporary global politics.”
— Wall Street Journal“The book is studded with insights, flashes of rare brilliance, great learning, and in particular, an ability to see the familiar in a new and provocative way.”
— Washington Post Book World" Best een goed boek. "
— Edelhart, 2/20/2014" Ideally, I would give this 3.5 stars. "
— Heidi, 2/15/2014" This is one of the founding texts of neo-conservatism, but it shouldn't be lightly dismissed as an ideological argument devoid of facts or scholarship. Huntington is, as Henry Kissinger reminds us on the back cover of my edition, an "eminent political scientist," who has done his homework and looked seriously at the post-Cold War world to consider what challenges the new world situation presented a dominant America just after the fall of the Soviet Union. He concluded that old political alliances are breaking down in favor of cultural commonalities on a "civilizational" level - interestingly his civilizations are largely defined by religious tendencies. This allowed him to isolate Islam before most of his colleagues had as the likely "next threat" after Communism, although it does create some problems in terms of "mixed" cases like India (he seems to define it as a mix of Islamic and Hindu, ignoring the Buddhist influences) or South Africa (which he lumps in with other African nations, probably based on the fall of Apartheid and expectations of white flight, ignoring its alliance to "The West" through tradition). Huntington is not unaware that there are many conflicts within civilizations, as he defines them, but he insists that the civilizational paradigm will allow peacemakers to focus on such conflicts as have the potential to escalate into more serious wars (it would seem that civil wars within the "African civilization" which have escalated into genocide are not worthy of such close attention). Most interestingly, Huntington identifies Israel as unabashedly Western, ignoring the very reason for the foundation of the state in the first place - the disparity between Jews and Europeans and the consequent inability of Jews to live without their own national state. In short, there are many problems with Huntington's position, but this is all the more reason why serious political thinkers should examine it for themselves, consider what aspects of his case make sense and where there are weaknesses. Paradoxically, moving away from the civilizational paradigm is more likely to offer solutions to civilizational conflicts, because what needs to be understood is not the differences among peoples, but their commonalities. "
— Michael, 2/15/2014" though the book makes a good reading, i dont agree with it at all, the religion is not such a binding force arabs treat muslims of the subcontinent as slaves,kurds are fighting turks for homeland.Even protestant europe has much differences among themselves.even hindus are bitterly diveded among themselves. "
— Mahesh, 2/8/2014" This is a decent book in the manner that the author covers many different aspects of interaction between different cultures and civilizations, with a lot of research and some adequate analysis. It is however, in my opinion, deeply flawed; as a lot of missing factors were neglected, either because of a lack of space or concern by the author. I would not recommend it to anyone as a primer on international relations, however for further study there are some good points to be considered. His analysis seems to be far too simplified, and as the book develops he seems to use the techniques of mass media to use certain facts presented in a specific light to create an impression. "
— Joe, 2/1/2014" It's exactly what everyone says it is, good and bad. "
— Jon, 1/29/2014" A good read not only for international politics students. Huntington presents his political view of the world in a cultural paradigm. From his realist perspective of international politics, the world is heading toward a power struggle between different civilizations. Quite an appealing idea. "
— Aleksandra, 1/16/2014" cobalah-cobalah pikirannya jangna aneh gitu lhooo.... "
— Dhe-dhe, 1/16/2014" Huntington is a sharp geopolitical analyst but a sophomoric philosopher. I'll write more later, maybe. "
— Paul, 12/22/2013" Neo-con garbage "
— Lauren, 12/17/2013" Controversial book that was fun to read. I don't agree with everything in it. "
— James, 11/27/2013" Pretty much mandatory reading for military officers nowadays. "
— Brandon, 11/26/2013" Overly simplistic, easy-to-accept view of the international system if you're looking for a neat answer that (only superficially) fits the bill. Could say so much more but Huyen nguyen says it pretty well. "
— tuesday, 11/7/2013" Just the right book for the right subject. Can not recommend it enough! Well written but over simplifies the whole clash of civilisation. Wish it could be simplified in real life! "
— Mayada, 9/26/2013" An alarmist view of the world and its people. "
— QA, 1/3/2013" The book that started my interest in reading, even though I don't agree with the theories put forward now. It was above my head then but sparked my interest in politics and the wider world. Thanks Sam! "
— Paul, 7/17/2012" A masterpiece: marvelous peace of work that is dazling in its scope and grasp of the intricacies of contemporary international politics. "
— Intikhab, 5/10/2011" Controversial book that was fun to read. I don't agree with everything in it. "
— James, 4/1/2011" Very interesting, even in 2011! Still very current, and great to know more about different conflicts. Great for polisci students but also for anyone interested in International relations "
— Poupou, 3/4/2011" A timely re-read of Clash of Civilizations. It is especially important today with the churn in the Arab world and our present foreign policy... "
— Kent, 2/26/2011" Another university book that seemed so terribly profound at the time...but now seems rather quaint and overly-simplistic. <br/> "
— Daniel, 1/23/2011" People knock this book for its simplistic conclusions, but I admire it precisely because Mr. Huntington didn't censor himself so as to not offend anyone. Yes, the book paints with broad strokes, but there is much truth to what he writes. "
— Dan, 12/24/2010Samuel P. Huntington was the Albert J. Weatherhead III university professor at Harvard University, where he was also the director of the John M. Olin Institute for Stategic Studies and the chairman of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies. He was the director of security planning for the National Security Council in the Carter administration, the founder and coeditor of Foreign Policy, and the president of the American Political Science Association.
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.