The Clash of Civilizations

The essay “The Clash of Civilizations?” was written by Samuel P. Huntington and was first published on June 1, 1993, in the summer edition of Foreign Affairs magazine. Born in New York City in 1921, Huntington was a political scientist and held the prestigious Albert J Weatherhead III University Professor position at Harvard University. He also served as the White House coordinator of security planning for the National Security Council during the Carter administration. Written after the end of the Cold War, “The Clash of Civilizations?” argues that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the next global conflict will be between civilizations rather than countries and will reflect cultural and religious differences rather than ideological ones. In particular, the essay explores The Influence of Civilizational Identity, The Dominance of the West, and Islam as a Rival to the West.

This guide refers to the summer 1993 issue of Foreign Affairs.

Content Warning: The source text references terrorism, warfare, and racial and religious prejudice and has drawn criticism for perceived racism and bias, particularly Islamophobia. This guide refers to these topics.

Summary

Huntington opens this essay by explaining that world politics are entering a new phase.