Samuel Huntington was a political scientist known for his book "The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order". Here are some key arguments from his book:
Civilizational conflicts: Huntington argued that future conflicts would occur along civilizational lines rather than ideological or economic lines. According to him, civilizations are the broadest and most meaningful cultural and religious identities of people, and these civilizations have fundamentally different values and beliefs, leading to clashes between them.
The West: Huntington believed that the Western civilization, which includes North America and Western Europe, is a unique and powerful civilization that has dominated the world in recent times. He argued that the Western civilization will continue to exert its influence, but will face increasing challenges from non-Western civilizations, especially from Islam.
Clash of civilizations: Huntington believed that the world is divided into several major civilizations, including the Western, Islamic, Confucian, Hindu, and African civilizations. He argued that the differences between these civilizations will lead to conflicts and clashes, and that the West needs to prepare for these clashes.
The role of culture and religion: Huntington believed that culture and religion are powerful forces that shape people's identities and beliefs, and that these forces will continue to be important factors in shaping global politics. He argued that cultural and religious differences are the primary sources of conflict in the world.
Implications for US foreign policy: Huntington's book had significant implications for US foreign policy. He argued that the US should prioritize its relations with other Western countries, and that it should be wary of other civilizations that challenge Western values and interests. He also believed that the US should focus on maintaining its military and economic power to counter potential threats from other civilizations.
Globalization: He believed that globalization would lead to increased cultural and religious fragmentation, which would in turn contribute to conflicts between civilizations. He argued that globalization would not create a homogenized world, but rather a more diverse and divided world, with civilizations becoming more self-conscious and assertive. Huntington also believed that the economic and political power of the West would decline relative to non-Western civilizations as a result of globalization, and that this would lead to increased conflict and competition between civilizations. He saw globalization as a potential source of instability and conflict, rather than a force for peace and integration.