An Analysis Of The Limitation Of Huntinton’s Clash Of Civilization

The end of the Cold War is unexpected, which makes many scholars have all kinds of predictionsabout the future world order. In all of these forecasters about the global situation after the Cold War, themost controversial U.S. scholar is Samuel P. Huntington who put forward “Clash of Civilizations”. Thetheory holds that “civilization” has replaced the nation-state. Therefore,“civilization” becomes a futureobservation, analysis, judgment, discussion of international issues and disputes. Huntington, according tothe relative homogeneity and differences of culture between different districts, divides cultures into sevenor eight homogeneities of cultures from the global perspective. These cultures become seven or eightsupra-national, supra-class and even the ultra-sectarian civilization communities. The structure of which isvery multicultural and complicated. This is the main actors in the world today, and also is “global tribes” asHuntington said. The clash of civilization is actually the conflict of these “global tribes”.No matter what society it is, if it participates into social conflict, cooperation, and the gameeffectively, it must be a integrated community. The features of which as follows: Firstly, the contradictionsof the different levels of community must be coordinated. Secondly, the community must have a verystrong legitimacy of public authority. Thirdly, the community which is not only community but alsoindividuals has a very strong identity. This community is an integrated community, or is a loose, the lack ofcohesion of the community.The civilization Huntington said is mainly an ultra-nation-state, supra-class, very large, lack ofcohesion, loose civilization community, which has a relative culture identity from his global view. Thisglobal community has three defects. Firstly, there is no a strong legitimacy, able to integrate internalcontradictions and effective public authority. Secondly, its members are deeply identified with the lack ofthe civilization, so lack dedication and spirit of sacrifice. This community is bound to the lack of cohesion.Thirdly, because Huntington’s community of civilization is a multicultural and multi-layer structure, thereare many multicultural identities. People’s identity is not very strong. So its internal contradictions areunable to integrate effectively. Huntington’s civilization Community is just a loose, very large communitywhich lacks cohesion due to these characteristics. This actor can not participate in global cooperation,conflict and game effectively. Thus, Huntington’s “clash of civilization” is not established.The nation-state is always the most important and fundamental actors in the world forminternational level. The reasons are as follows: First of all, the internal members of nation-state communityhave a strong identity with nation-state, and are willing to make their sacrifice. Secondly, the nation-statehas a legal public authority, which has the ability to integrate internal contradictions, and put forward adevelopment goal. It is able to mobilize actors and most individuals to struggle, even make sacrifice.Thirdly, the nation-state as a relative independent actor can participate in international cooperation and game. Finally, the nation-state has many internal contradictions. But it has a legitimate public authoritywhich has the ability to integrate. People are identified with it. So its internal contradictions are easier toresolve. Therefore, only the nation-state is an integrated, cohesive community from global level. Thenation-state is an actor which can participate in the global cooperation, conflicts and game. So from theperspective of the conflict, the global conflicts are not Huntington’s “clash of civilization” but nation-states.The form of nation-state may be the most important political organization in the world. Cosmopolitanism isprobably a utopia. So the conflict of the nation-state is the main form in the world.Huntington’s “clash of civilization” provides us with a new perspective to observe the world, whichis the most contribution and the reason why the academies at home and abroad are increasingly interestedin. So, Huntington’s “clash of civilization” is worth being further studied.