CSS Study Notes

The Clash of Civilizations — Chapter 9

The Global Politics of Civilizations

KEY TERMS & CONCEPTS

TERM DEFINITION / SIGNIFICANCE
La guerra fria Coined by 13th-century Spaniards = 'cold war'; described
uneasy coexistence with Muslims in the Mediterranean.
Huntington borrows it to describe the civilizational cold war
between Islam and the West in the 1990s.
Cold Peace Warned by Boris Yeltsin as the likely future of Russia-West
relations; cooler than alliance, warmer than open war.
Fault Line Conflict Local/micro-level conflict between neighbouring states or groups
(Micro) of different civilizations, often along cultural borders.
Core State Conflict Global/macro-level conflict between the major (core) states of
(Macro) different civilizations; classic issues of international politics.
Kin-Country Syndrome In civilizational conflicts, states rally behind their cultural kin
rather than ideological allies — 'kin stand by their kin.'
Bandwagoning Joining the rising power; more characteristic of Asian
civilizations (vs. Western balancing).
Gharbzadegi Persian: 'Westoxication' — the contamination of Muslim society
by Western values; drives Islamic Resurgence anti-Westernism.
Hegemonic War War between a rising and a falling great power; Thucydides
Trap. Western history avoided one (Britain→USA) due to cultural
kinship.

SECTION 1: CORE STATE & FAULT LINE CONFLICTS

Nature of Intercivilizational Relations
Civilizations = 'ultimate human tribes'; clash of civilizations = tribal conflict on a global scale.

Spectrum of Relations (Distant → Violent) Examples / Notes

Cold Peace Between states that were Cold War allies
(Russia–West)
Cold War (la guerra fria) Islam–West in 1990s; covert action +
 terrorism + sanctions
Trade War Economic conflict; Asia–America
Quasi War Declared but fought with limited means
(Islam–West post-1979)
Uneasy Peace / Troubled Relations Default state for most civilizational pairs
Hot War Relatively rare between core states; more
common at fault lines

Two Levels of Conflict

Level MICRO (Fault Line) MACRO (Core State)
Who fights? Neighboring states / groups within a Major (core) states of different
state civilizations
Examples Former Yugoslavia, ex-Soviet USA vs China, Russia vs West;
states; particularly prevalent classic issues of international
between Muslims and non-Muslims politics

Six Core State Conflict Issues

Core state conflicts involve these classic international politics issues:
• 1. Relative influence in shaping global developments & international orgs (UN, IMF, World
Bank)
• 2. Relative military power — arms control, non-proliferation, arms races
• 3. Economic power & welfare — trade, investment disputes
• 4. People — protecting kinsmen in another civilization, discrimination, exclusion
• 5. Values and culture — imposing values on another civilization
• 6. Territory (occasional) — core states becoming frontline participants in fault line conflicts

How Core States Manage Conflict

STRATEGY: Core states rally their civilizational cohorts, seek support from third
civilizations, promote defections within opposing civilizations, and use diplomacy, politics,
economics, covert action, and propaganda — but are UNLIKELY to use direct military force
against each other (except in Middle East/Subcontinent where they share a fault line).

Two Circumstances for Core State War:

• ① Escalation from fault line conflict — local groups drag in core states as kin; incentivises core
states to resolve local conflicts before escalation.
• ② Change in global balance of power — hegemonic war (e.g., Athens/Sparta; rising China vs.
West).
SECTION 2: ISLAM AND THE WEST
Historical Overview
KEY ARGUMENT: The Islam-West conflict is NOT a transitory phenomenon like the Cold
War — it is a 1,400-year-old civilizational clash that has defined both sides more
fundamentally than any ideology.

Period Key Event

7th–8th century Arab-Islamic expansion → North Africa, Iberia, Middle East, Persia,
Northern India
11th century Christians recapture Sicily, Toledo. In 1095 → the Crusades launched;
lasted ~150 years with declining success.
14th–15th century Ottoman Turks weaken Byzantium, conquer Balkans, take
Constantinople (1453), besiege Vienna (1529). Bernard Lewis: 'For
almost a thousand years, Europe was under constant threat from
Islam.'
15th–17th century Christian Europe recovers Iberia (Granada 1492). Russians end Tatar
rule. Ottomans besiege Vienna again (1683) → begin long retreat.
'Sick man of Europe.'
Post-WWI Britain, France, Italy administer coup de grace on Ottomans. By 1920,
only 4 Muslim countries remained independent: Turkey, Saudi Arabia,
Iran, Afghanistan.
1920s–1990s Western colonialism retreats. ~92 acquisitions of Muslim territory by
non-Muslims (1757–1919). By 1995, 69 re-under Muslim rule. 40+
independent Muslim states.

Why Conflict Persists — Root Causes

MNEMONIC: 'DIFF-5' — Demographics, Islamic Resurgence, Fall of communism, Friction
from contact, West's universalism

# Factor Explanation
1 Demographics (D) Muslim population explosion → large numbers of unemployed,
disaffected youth → recruitment into Islamist causes, migration
to the West, pressure on neighbours.
2 Islamic Resurgence Muslims gain renewed confidence in their civilization's
(I) distinctiveness vs. Western values; Islamic Resurgence rejects
European/American influence.
3 West's Universalism West attempts to universalise its values + maintain
 (F) military/economic superiority + intervene in Muslim conflicts →
generates intense resentment among Muslims.
4 Fall of Communism Collapse of communism removed the common enemy that had
(F) united the West and Islam; each now sees the other as the
primary threat.
5 Intermingling (F) Increasing contact stimulates heightened sense of separate
identity on both sides; exacerbates disputes over rights of
civilizational minorities. Tolerance declined sharply in both
communities in the 1980s–90s.

Jihad vs Crusade — Structural Similarities

• Both Islam and Christianity are universalistic: claim to be the one true faith for all humanity.
• Both are missionary religions with an obligation to convert non-believers.
• Both expanded by conquest historically (jihad / crusade).
• Both are teleological (linear view of history with a divine purpose) — unlike the cyclical or static
views of other civilizations.
• Both are monotheistic and cannot easily assimilate other deities → fundamentally dualistic
worldview (us vs. them).

The Islam–West Quasi-War (Post-1979)

The 1979 Iranian Revolution triggered an intercivilizational quasi-war between Islam and the
West — declared but fought with limited means, not continuously.

Why it is a 'Quasi' War — Three Reasons:

• ① Not all of Islam is fighting: Two fundamentalist states (Iran, Sudan) + three non-
fundamentalist (Iraq, Libya, Syria) + Islamist orgs (with Saudi financial backing) vs. USA,
sometimes Britain, France, Israel.
• ② Limited means: Terrorism (Islamic side) vs. air power and covert action (Western side) +
economic sanctions.
• ③ Not continuous: Intermittent actions by one side provoke responses from the other; not a
declared, sustained war.

Key Asymmetry:
• Islamic side: Car bombs at selected targets → terrorism.
• Western side: Smart bombs on selected targets → air power.
• US conducted 17 military operations in the Middle East (1980–1995), all directed against
Muslims — no comparable pattern against any other civilisation.
Muslim View of the West
Muslim Perception of West Western Perception of Islam
Militaristic, imperialistic, traumatizing Nuclear proliferator, terrorist sponsor
Materialistic, corrupt, decadent, immoral Source of unwanted migrants ('Islamic
threat')
Seductive (hence more dangerous to resist) NATO's 'Southern Tier' is the new front line
West = 'the Godless West' (post-Cold War Fundamentalism = 'at least as dangerous as
label) communism' (NATO Sec-Gen, 1995)

Root of the Conflict: Power AND Culture

Huntington's KEY ARGUMENT: The real conflict is not just about power (Lenin's 'who is to
rule?') but also about culture ('who is right and who is wrong?'). As long as Islam remains
Islam and the West remains the West, this fundamental civilizational conflict will continue to
define their relations — as it has for 14 centuries.

Underlying problem for the West: Not Islamic fundamentalism, but Islam itself — a civilization whose
people are:
• ① Convinced of the SUPERIORITY of their culture, AND
• ② Obsessed with the INFERIORITY of their power.
• The West's problem: Convinced of the UNIVERSALITY of their culture + belief that their
declining power still obliges them to extend it globally.

SECTION 3: ASIA, CHINA, AND AMERICA

The Cauldron of Civilizations
Asian economic growth is one of the most significant developments of the 20th century's
second half. BUT: Economic growth creates political instability. Trade brings people into
contact — NOT into agreement. Asia of economic sunshine → Asia of political shadows and
conflict.

Three Ways Asian Development Disrupts International Politics:

• ① Enables Asian states to expand military capabilities → uncertainty about future relationships
→ higher conflict probability.
• ② Intensifies conflicts between Asian societies and the West (primarily USA) → strengthens
Asia's ability to prevail.
• ③ Chinese economic growth → increased Chinese regional influence → likelihood of China
reasserting East Asian hegemony → others must bandwagon or balance.
Historical Context: A Western Game No More
For centuries, international relations were a Western game supplemented by Russia (18th c.) and
Japan (20th c.). Europe was the principal arena. Now the locus of power and conflict is shifting to Asia
— especially with China's rise as the potential source of a big intercivilizational core state war.

HUNTINGTON'S THESIS: The dynamism of Islam is the ongoing source of many small
fault-line wars. The rise of China is the potential source of a big intercivilizational war
between core states.

CSS EXAM: PROBABLE QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Likely Question Key Points for Answer

Differentiate fault line conflicts Micro vs. macro; local groups vs. major states;
from core state conflicts. Yugoslavia/ex-USSR examples vs. US-China,
Russia-West; six core state issues.
What are the causes of Islam-West DIFF-5: Demographics, Islamic Resurgence, Fall of
conflict? communism, Friction from contact, West's
universalism. Structural: both universalistic
missionary faiths (jihad/crusade). Historical: 1400
years.
What is the 'quasi-war' between Post-1979 Iranian Revolution. Not all Islam vs.
Islam and the West? West. Limited means (terrorism vs. airpower).
Intermittent. More Westerners killed in quasi-war
than in the 'real' Gulf War. Khomeini declared 'Iran is
at war with America.'
How does Asian economic growth Military expansion, intensified Asia-West conflict,
affect global politics? Chinese hegemony in East Asia. Economic growth ≠
peace. Bandwagoning vs. balancing. China =
potential source of big core state war.
Explain kin-country syndrome. In civilizational conflicts (unlike ideological ones),
states side with cultural kin regardless of political
alignment. Core states rally cohorts. European
govts. rarely criticised US actions against Islam,
unlike Soviet era. In civilizational conflicts, kin stand
by their kin.
QUICK RECALL: MNEMONICS & MEMORY AIDS
Mnemonic What it covers
DIFF-5 5 causes of renewed Islam-West conflict: Demographics,
Islamic Resurgence, Fall of communism, Friction from
intermingling, West's universalism
RMEPVT 6 core state conflict issues: Relative influence, Military power,
Economic power, People (kinsmen), Values/culture, Territory
'Fault Line = Fight locally' Fault line = micro/local; Core state = macro/global
'4 free Muslims in 1920' By 1920, only Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan
remained independent of non-Muslim rule
Superiority + Inferiority Islam: culturally superior (self-perception) + militarily inferior →
Islam's core psychological tension driving the conflict

— End of Chapter 9 Notes —