Globalization & the Clash of Civilizations

Globalization & the Clash of Civilizations
Boutkhil Guemide
University Mohammed Boudiaf, M’sila
Algeria

 INTRODUCTION
 Globalization: Definition
 The Factors of Globalization
 Culture: Definition
 Globalization Cultural diversity
 Cultural impacts of Globalization
 The Clash of Civilizations: Introduction
 Cultural Diversity and the Clash of
Civilisations
 Cultural Diversity and the Dialogue of
Civilisations
 Conclusion

INTRODUCTION"ْ‫م‬َ‫ل‬‫أ‬َْ‫ر‬َ‫ت‬ْ‫ن‬‫أ‬‫هللا‬‫نزل‬‫أ‬‫من‬‫السامء‬َْ‫ماء‬‫خرجنا‬‫فأ‬‫به‬ْ‫ات‬‫ر‬‫مث‬ْ‫خمتلفا‬‫اهنا‬‫و‬‫ل‬‫أ‬.‫ومن‬‫اجلبال‬ْ‫دد‬ُ‫ج‬ْ‫بيض‬ْ‫ر‬ ُ‫وُح‬ْ‫خمتلف‬‫اهنا‬‫و‬‫ل‬‫أ‬،
‫ابيب‬‫ر‬‫وغ‬‫سود‬*‫ومن‬‫الناس‬‫اب‬‫و‬‫ادل‬‫و‬‫نعام‬‫ال‬‫و‬ْ‫خمتلف‬‫نه‬‫ا‬‫و‬‫ل‬‫أ‬،‫كذكل‬‫منا‬‫ا‬‫خيىش‬َْ‫هللا‬‫من‬‫عباده‬‫العل‬ُْ‫ء‬‫ام‬‫ن‬‫ا‬‫هللا‬ْ‫يز‬‫ز‬‫ع‬
‫غفور‬."
"‫ومن‬‫ايته‬‫أ‬ُْ‫خلق‬‫ات‬‫و‬‫السام‬‫رض‬‫ال‬‫و‬‫اختالف‬‫و‬‫سنتمك‬‫ل‬‫أ‬‫و‬‫انمك‬‫و‬‫ل‬‫أ‬،ْ‫ن‬‫ا‬‫يف‬‫ذكل‬ْ‫ايت‬‫ل‬‫للعاملني‬"
 Seest Thou not that Allah Sends down rain from the sky? with it we
then bring out produce of various colors. and In the mountains are
tracts white and red, of various shades of color, and black intense
In hue. And so amongst men and crawling creatures and cattle, are
They of various colors. those truly fear Allah, among His servants,
who have knowledge: for Allah is Exalted In Might, Oft-Forgiving
(35: 27- 28).
 And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth,
and the variations In your languages and your colors: Verily In that

 The nature of Diversity in the globe,
 The human community is Diverse,
 Scholars, researchers, and scientists are the
societies’ leaders and think tanks should respect
Diversity and call other people for taking this
phenomenon into account,
 Diversity: Different identities which characterized
human societies, and which interacted with each
other,
 Diverse human societies grow, people live and
integrate within societies and communities which
are best characterized of their cultural diversity.

UNESCO Article 1: Cultural diversity: the common heritage
of humanity
Culture takes diverse forms across time and space.
This diversity is embodied in the uniqueness and
plurality of the identities of the groups and societies
making up humankind. As a source of exchange,
innovation and creativity, cultural diversity is as
necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for
nature. In this sense, it is the common heritage of
humanity and should be recognized and affirmed for
the benefit of present and future generations
(UNESCO, Paris, Nov. 2, 2001).

Globalization
• Globalization has transformed society,
economics and politics, greatly
influencing demographics within the
workplace,
• Globalization has entered our ideological
and political interpretational framework
strongly and decisively,
• In its name policies and practices are
established or justified, which affect
significant aspects of our lives.

Globalization: Definition
 Globalization: The spread of products, technology,
information, and jobs across national borders and cultures.
 Interdependence of nations around the globe fostered
through free trade.
 Globalization: A process of interaction and integration among
the people, companies, and governments of different
nations, a process driven by international
trade and investment and aided by information technology.
 Effects on the environment, culture, political
systems, economic development and prosperity, and human
physical well- being in societies around the world.
 Globalization is not new: For thousands of years, people—
and corporations— have been buying from and selling to
each other in lands at great distances (The Silk Road).
 People and corporations have invested in enterprises in
other countries.

Corporations gain a competitive
advantage on multiple fronts
through globalization.
They can reduce operating costs
by manufacturing abroad.
They can buy raw materials more
cheaply because of the reduction
or removal of tariffs.
Most of all, they gain access to
millions of new consumers.

The phenomenon of Globalization
Social
• Greater
interaction
among various
populations
Cultural
• The exchange of
ideas, values,
and artistic
expression
among cultures
Legal
• International
law is created
and enforced
Political
• International
organizations

Culture: Definition
CULTURE: can been seen as the complex whole of a
society. So this can include everything that gives a
society its identity, which would include such things as
language, beliefs, values, customs, laws, cuisine, etc.

Culture is
learned
• Culture is not inherited biologically, but it is learnt socially by man in society.
• It is not an inborn tendency, but acquired by man from the association of others, e.g.
drinking, eating, dressing, walking, behaving, reading are all learnt by man.
Culture is
shared
• Culture is something shared.
• It is nothing that an individual can posses but shared by common people of a territory.
• Customs, traditions, values, beliefs are all shared by man in a social situation.
Culture is
integrated
• Introduction of cultural foods, beliefs or arts of different cultures.
• The US referred to as a “melting Pot” because many cultures have come together and
added their particular flavor.
Culture is
continuous
• It is continuous process.
• It is like a stream which is flowing from one generation to another through centuries.
• “Culture is the memory of human race.”
Culture is
changing
• It remains changing .
• Cultural process undergoes changes, but with different speeds from society to society
and generation to generation.

Globalization & Cultural diversity
 Globalisation & diversity: Two grounding
phenomena,
 Odds?
 Globalization: Neo- imperialism.
Economic
Political
Cultural

Cultural impacts of Globalization
 The effects of globalization on cultural diversity is a challenging debate,
 Smith (2000): The advancement of technology dissolves international
boundaries and opens cultures to a whole new arena, enabling globalization
to occur,
 Moahi (2007): It can interconnect the world, support economic
development, provide information availability and assist in developing
a global village,
 Globalization and cultural diversity: A paradoxical dichotomy, a tangible
undercurrent,
 Globalization has the potential to mobilize and empower people, provide a
means for self- representation, support a collective identity through
socialization and provide employment opportunities,
 It has the ability to disempower people by misrepresentation, provide a
process for further colonization, and propel the loss of individualism and self
and group identity,
 Fredric Jameson (1998): One of a corporate-dominated monoculture where
nations and cultural groups alike are deprived of autonomy and identity; and
another of a vibrant celebration of pluralism, in which various cultural
groups are in direct and harmonious contact with one another, free from
limiting political forces such as national governments.

Negative Influences
Promoting
consumer culture
Exploitation of workers and
markets and influencing
societal values
‘Drowning out’ local
cultural
Encouraging
'Western ideal of
individualism'
Loss of individualism & group
identity
Colonization

The Clash of Civilizations: Introduction
 James Baker: The world witnessed several revolutions; The
world has changed dramatically, and this necessitated a change
in long- term strategies,
 The Bush administration had a role in detonating and provoking
global revolutions, turmoil, national and ethnic eruptions, and
civil wars,
 However, they were unable to control them (Bosnia &
Herzegovina, Somalia, Iraq ... etc.),
 The US policy- makers had to formulate strategies in response to
this chaos and turmoil in order to achieve the US interests,
 Samuel Huntington: “The Clash of Civilizations?,”
 A new concept of the nature of international conflict,
 The international conflict did not end with the end of the Cold
War, but its nature changed from an ideological and economic
conflict to a more civilizational and cultural conflict,
 The basis of the culture or identity that governs each civilization-
between the major civilizations and cultures in the world.

Cultural
Diversity
The End of History
The Dialogue of
Civilizations
The Clash of
Civilizations

Cultural diversity and the End of History
 Youshihirou Francis Fukuyama:
 Birth: 1952, Chicago
 US Citizen
 Neo- Conservative
 US modern philosopher and thinker
 Graduation: B. A & M. A Political
Philosophy, University of Cornel; Ph D.
in Political Sciences from Harvard
University.
 Job History: US Department of State;
teaching positions; US Strategic
Planning Research Center; Director of
International Developmental Program
(University of John Hopkins)
 Publications: The End of History and
the Last Man (1992)

Summary of main argument
 The End of History and the Last Man:
Francis Fukuyama controversially argued
that that the end of the Cold War signals
the end of the progression of human
history,
 Fukuyama:
 ‘What we may be witnessing in not just the
end of the Cold War, or the passing of a
particular period of post- war history, but
the end of history as such: that is, the end
point of mankind's ideological evolution and
the universalization of Western liberal
democracy as the final form of human
government.’

 Democracy has been growing since 19th
century, and has been promoted as a
civilizational and alternative regime to
dictatorships all over the world,
 The struggle of history will only be resolved by
Western Democracy and Free Market policies;
 Socialism and Communism will never defy
Western Democracy; The future is paved for
Capitalism.
 “Islam is no more effective outside the
boundaries of the Islamic culture, … .It is
nowadays possible to penetrate Islam in the
long term with liberal ideas”.

 According to Francis Fukuyama, pride and
appreciation should be attributed only to
Western Civilization which reached its peak
and utmost with several inventions and the
progress made in several field that is
apparently seen and noticeable in better
conditions of living provided to humans,
 As a neo- conservative, Fukuyama calls for a
new world with only one dominant culture
and civilization: Headed by the Western one,
 Moreover, the minor civilizations and
cultures must be erased to be totally

Cultural diversity and the Clash of Civilisations
 Samuel Huntington:
 Birth: Apr. 18, 1927, NY
 Graduation: B. A (1946) Yale University; M. A.
(1948) Chicago University; Ph D. (1951) Harvard
University.
 Job History:
 1959- 62: Director of Center of War & Peace
Studies in Columbia University
 67- 71: Teacher at Harvard University
 72- 86: Foreign Affairs
 86- 87: Head of American Association of Political
Sciences
 87- 89: Director of Harvard Center of World
Issues
 89- 99: Director of John Olan Center of Strategic
Studies
 99- 2007: President of Harvard Academy of
International Studies
 Death: Dec. 27, 2008
 Publications: The Clash of Civilizations and the
Remaking of the New World (1996).

Huntington’s Thesis
 Huntington (1996) quoted in his book (The Clash
of Civilizations):
In this new (post- Cold war) world the
most pervasive, important and
dangerous conflicts will not be
between social classes, rich and poor,
or other economically defined groups,
but between peoples belonging to
different cultural entities. Tribal wars
and ethnic conflicts will occur within
civilizations. And the most dangerous
cultural conflicts are those along the
fault lines between civilizations. (p. 28)

1) “In the post-Cold War world, the most
important distinctions among peoples
are not ideological, political, or
economic. They are cultural”,
2) Global politics is multi-polar and multi-
civilizational: NOT a ‘Westernization’
of non- Western states,
3) The balance of population is shifting
with a decline in the West,
4) Asia is expanding, and Islam is
expanding demographically.

6) Civilizational cultures are defined by: common objective
elements (language, history, religion, customs,
institutions) & by subjective self-identification (‘us’ and
‘them’).
7) Civilizational cultures are based mainly on religion: (p43-
48)
Western Christianity, Islamic, Orthodox, Latin American,
Sinic, Japanese, Hindu, Buddhist, African (?)
8) “Conflict between groups in different civilizations will be
more frequent, more sustained and more violent than
conflicts between groups in the same civilization.” (1993,
48)
9) “Nation states will remain the most powerful actors in
world affairs, but the principle conflicts of global
politics will occur between nations and groups of
different civilizations. The clash of civilizations will
dominate global politics.”

Main Civilizations
The 7 main civilizations are:
Latin America
 Confucian
Japanese
 Islamic
 Hindu
 Slavic - Orthodox
 Western

 Paul Wolfowitz
 Born: December 22, 1943, NY.
 Education: Cornell
University (BA) (1965);
University of
Chicago (MA, PhD) (1972)
 Political party: Republican
 CEO AEI: 2007-
 President of the World
Bank Group: 2005– 2007
 US Deputy Secretary of
Defense: 2001– 2005
 Undersecretary of Defense
for Policy: 1989– 1993
 US Ambassador to
Indonesia: 1986– 1989

 The US has set up UNO in order to unite international
efforts against axes countries headed by Germany; The US
has succeeded to put an end to the Hitler’s imperialist
intentions. Accordingly, the US and countries agreed on
the fact that the UNO’s role will be to promote peace all
over the world.
 The Cold War: The UNO was ineffective because of the
Eastern Vs. Western Blocks Both the US and USSR
divided the world into spheres of influence.
 The end of the Cold War: The US has set up UNO in
order to unit international efforts against axes countries
headed by Germany; The US has succeeded to put an end
to the Hitler’s imperialist intentions. Accordingly, the US
and countries agreed on the fact that the UNO’s role will
be to promote peace all over the world.

 The US: The need for international cooperation in the UNO’s framework in its
conflict with axes power and the USSR,
 However, after the end of the Cold War, the USSR became the world power
and erased all lawful considerations and references; it became the 1st country
to frame the laws and protector of international relations,
 “The US must rule the world” (Richard Nixon, The US and the Historical
Chance),
 With the absence of the UNO and its international reference, the US has
established chaos in the world,
 Since the formation of the US, the concept of strength has been an essential
part in US politics and decision making,
 Strength is necessary and legal to promote justice,
 Zebginew Brejenesky (The US and the principal of strength).
 The US & Islam: Replacing Islam with US Liberalism,
 Islam has no role to play in Politics, culture, and society,
 Since the US has been powerful, it has to liberalize the world according to its
perspective,
 The world has to be shaped through the US,
 The fear of the rise of the Green Danger (Islam): Terrorism will rise and will
be promoted all over the Arab world (Al Qaeda and ISIS) which threatens the

Cultural diversity and the
Dialogue of Civilisations

 In the last century, the world has witnessed many
ideological changes that led into an era of
unprecedented conflicts, wars, destruction of the Berlin
Wall, the collapse of ex- USSR, the fall of Communism,
and transformation of the world into unipolarity led by
the US;
 Bipolarity: each block (representing a culture, or a
civilization) seeks to dominate the world so as to impose
its culture and values Clashes: Persia Vs. Rome;
Great Britain Vs. France; USSR Vs. US;
 Throughout history, there had been various examples of
civilizations struggling to achieve supremacy and global
domination;
 In case there emerges a single civilization which
dominates the world and still more wars conducted and
destruction and turmoil in the world.

 "Dialogue of Civilizations”:
Introduced by Rajaa Garaudy in 1977 as
a leading theory and a project to bring
different cultures together on the basis of
a common ground of understanding
between the peoples of the globe;
 " Dialogue of Civilizations”: “A real
dialogue of civilization will only be
effective if I consider the “Other”, and
the “Other Culture” being part of me,
living inside me, and exploring what I am
in need of.” (p. 134).
 "Dialogue of Civilizations”:
Continuous consultations and dynamisms
between peoples; the ability to accept
new ideas and thoughts (religious,
political, social, or cultural) without
prejudices which destroyed the world.

 The concept; thus, becomes important in
strengthening dialogue between peoples’
different cultures in order to build a real
cultural exchange among peoples.
 AKA “Dialogue of Cultures”: participatory
activities in generating ideas, thoughts, and
several cultural opinions among different
peoples.
 This leads to understand divergences among
civilizations; work to make them closer to
each other by exploring cultural relativity
which is based on particular characters; such
as, languages, ethics, history, religion, … etc.

Conditions
for
Dialogue of
Civilizations
Mutual
Respect
Respecting
Cultural
Particularity
No Bias/ or
preconceived
ideas
Understandig
Cultural
Effects

 “Dialogue of civilizations and
cultures”: Conceptualized by ex- Iranian
President Dr. Seyyad Muhamed Khatami,
 An elected head of state has raised the
level of political discourse to that of ideas,
and has suggested that dialogue between
politicians can succeed only to the extent
that they consider themselves philosophers,
 Khatami has elaborated his concept of
dialogue of civilizations on several
occasions: The summit of the Organization
of Islamic Conference (OIC), in Tehran on
Dec. 9-11, 1997,
 In Paris, he developed his thought further,
in a major speech delivered to the UN
Economic, Social, and Cultural Organization.
 His speech Before the 53rd Session of the
United Nations General Assembly in NY,
September 21, 1998.

 Khatami: “dialogue”, meaning actual meetings for discussion, and
“civilization”, meaning “all cultural, artistic, scientific, and literary
endeavors”,
 “Launching such a dialogue among cultures and civilizations will
require the definitions of ‘culture,’ ‘civilization,’ and ‘man’ to be
framed in such a way that they do not clash with the very essence of
dialogue,
 The relationship between the politician and the artist,
 “The common traits between the statesman and the artist are
nothing other than ‘creativity,’
 Repetition and imitation are meaningless when it comes to creativity,
 The full manifestation of creativity in a person depends on his/ her
‘tenacity’,
 “A great artist tackles the artistic truth with creativity and tenacity,
and a great statesman, likewise, tackles the fundamental and vital
problems of his country with the same tenacity, resoluteness, and
creativity”,
 “Today politicians can take a long stride toward the creation of a
better future,… , and more beautiful, …, by helping the realization of
the proposal for the dialogue among civilizations.”

 “Positive mass cooperation”: “all human beings are entitled to participate in the
activities that will shape the world in the third millennium. No nation should be left on the
sidelines because of some philosophical, political, or economic argument. It is not enough
to tolerate others, but one must work with others. This cooperation should be not only
economic and political, but to bring the hearts of human beings closer together.”
 This can occur only if “great thinkers” make an effort to understand the concepts of
others, and to communicate them,
 Such concepts include the meaning of life, of happiness, and of death,
 To overcome the brutality and oppression which have characterized the 20th century, and
which were the “joint product of the ideas of philosophers and the acts of statesmen,”
Khatami called for “a basic change in political thinking” and for “changing the present
state of international relations, replacing it with a new paradigm such as the dialogue
among cultures and civilizations”,
 Khatami specified that his proposed dialogue as a prerequisite for peace, has nothing to
do with diplomatic negotiations,
 “It is a well-known fact that throughout history, there have been many occasions when
wars and negotiations have existed side by side. By dialogue, we do not mean here the
use of diplomatic language to promote one’s political and economic interests and to bring
about victory over the enemy, and in short to continue the war in another form. The
dialogue among civilizations cannot take place without sympathy and affection, and
without a genuine effort to understand others without the desire to vanquish them.”
 "Thus, civilizations must be a base of common constants among them and proceed to a
dialogue that embraces pluralism and non- domination of one civilization over the others.
Therefore, this dialogue will enable each side to understand the other and coexist with it;
instead of collisions and wars.”

Conclusion
 Dialogue as a substitute to Clash:
 Depite the lack of clear results of the sessions of dialogue of civilizations, the idea is
genius and represents an important task to bridge the gap of mutual ignorance of
"the other": his cultural and religious particularity,
 Towards a global civilization:
 Dalogue would be a means of building a global civilization in which the peoples and
societies of the contemporary world lived, but this aspiration contains some practical
and intellectual problems,
 A global civilization?
 The absence of cultural diversity, or neglecting the means of creativity which respect
and preserve diversity, and, on the other hand, build bridges of friendliness and
respect among the people of each culture,
 Therefore, those who seek to protect and respect cultural diversity believe that it an
introduction of a global civilization based on freedom, justice, and global peace.
Others have called for an alliance of civilizations committed to international law,
human rights, tolerance, citizenship and humanity,
 Dialogue of Elites :
 Intellectuals around the world represent different ideal and political perspectives,
 They are capable of reaching "the other": understanding and respecting him,
 These elites should be successful in communicating the meanings of communication
with the ‘the other’,
 Therefore, it is necessary and inevitable to make several efforts to understand the
different particularities of "the other" and communicating them to the public.

Globalization & the Clash of Civilizations

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