Chinese Scholars' Studies On Huntington's "Clash Of Civilization"

During the summer of 1993, Samuel P. Huntington, a Harvard Professor,delivered an article entitled "Clash of Civilization?" in an American magazinenamed " Foreign Affairs " . In the article, he pointed out that " civilization" was theroot cause of the conflicts in the post-cold-war era. He classified world civilizationsinto eight categories and considered that future conflicts in the world would emergeamong eight civilizations, particularly among Western Christian civilization andIslamic civilization. In addition, he pointed out that Confucianism civilization was aforce that cannot be ignored and it will jointly challenge Western Christiancivilization with Islamic civilization. Therefore, he published some other articles, inwhich he explained and gave full play to his theory. His theory eventually evolvedinto so-called "clash of civilization" theory which evoked fierce discussions ininternational political circle and press circle. This dispute is striking with its range,time and participation. The controversy and response of Chinese academia to "clashof civilization" theory is an important link of the dispute in the worldwide. Chinesescholars have expressed their opinions toward some major problems such as therelationship between different civilizations, international relationship in post-cold-warera and the way that Chinese scholars deal with conflict and challenge in the era ofglobalization, which included fierce debates and prudent thinking. They have acquiredpositive results. Meanwhile, they leave something that is worth discussing. Up to now,few domestic scholars have systematically combed and summarized this importantacademic event that lasted for over ten years. I think, the outstanding event intemporary Chinese academic history need careful thinking and cannot be easily forgotwith the fading of this discussion. This text investigates Chinese scholars' disputetoward "clash of civilization" theory as a whole academic event, aims at clarifyingChinese scholars' basic attitude and view toward this theory, sum up basiccharacteristics of this controversy, analyze its contribution and disadvantages ofcontemporary academic development in China and find out the enlightenments drawnout of it. It has certain realistic meaning and theoretical value to understand Chinesescholars' responses to "clash of civilization " theory, seek the effective way to resolveinternational dispute and promote the sound development of academic discussion.The full text altogether divides four parts. The first part combs the basic...