In 1992, political scientist Samuel Huntington put forth the theory of the Clash of Civilizations. He suggested that since the cold war clash of ideologies had come to an end, that in the future, conflict would instead be focused around the concept of differing cultures and religions. He delineated several different areas of the world as particular 'cultures' that might face conflict with each other.
Among those he listed as potential enemies were the West and the Muslim World. Given the current state of world affairs, as well as our goals as an interfaith dialogue organization, this theory needs closer examination.
(March 4,2010,Tulsa,OK)
While Huntington's theory has been embraced by some, many now reject this view. The arguments against the theory were the topic for a panel discussion at the Tulsa Institute of Interfaith Dialog on Thursday, March 4. The Reverend Paul Ashby from Fellowship Congregational Church moderated, and the panel speakers were Dr. Rodger Randle, Dr. Andrew Vassar, Dr. Bilal Erturk and Ms. Emilyn Arbital.
Dr. Rodger Randle is currently a professor in the Department of Human Relations at the University of Oklahoma, and also serves as Director of the Center for Studies in Democracy and Culture. He earned a doctor of Law degree from the University of Tulsa. He previously served in the Peace Corps, was a member of the state legislature and was the mayor of Tulsa in 1988. Dr. Randle spoke about Huntington's theory as having gained popularity because it is a "seductive" approach to global tensions. He echoed Eisenhower's caution concerning the military industrial complex and noted that Huntington's approach serves that paradigm well. Randle pointed out that cultural 'clashes' are more often likely the result of ignorance and misunderstanding than any real insurmountable difference.
Dr. Andrew Vassar, a humanities professor at Northeastern State University, considered Huntington's theory from the angle of self-fulfilling prophesy. He pointed out that maybe the clash is/was not inevitable. He suggested the ways in which media and politics are influenced and then, in turn, influence the public. Perhaps Huntington's idea is not inherently true, but serves a particular global economic agenda well.
Dr. Bilal Erturk currently teaches finance at Oklahoma State University. He received an engineering degree from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey and a doctorate in finance from Texas A&M University. He also serves as a director and volunteer for the Institute of Interfaith Dialog.Dr. Erturk spoke about the natural tendencies of humans toward conflict, a point which seems to make Huntington's theory rather arbitrary. In one way or another conflict tends to arise. Erturk focused on the need to start with the youth of the world to navigate away from conflict. He gave examples of Gulen inspired schools in the Philippines and Bosnia where children of different cultures, religions and ethnicity learn and grow together. He believes examples such as these will serve an an antidote to the ignorance and misunderstanding that Dr. Randle highlighted.Ms. Emilyn Arbital, a Tulsa attorney and youth educator at Congregation B'nai Emunah, gave a different approach to conflict.
Ms. Arbital talked about the different types of Jewish communities. She reminded us that there is no monolithic version of any group. This suggests that the clash of civilizations notion is oversimplified. Huntington's particular 'cultures' that are prone to clash face within themselves conflict that adds complexity and disrupts the basic labels he attempts to apply.
Following these four speakers, the audience asked questions- ranging from the role leadership plays in global affairs to the effect of interfaith and multi-cultural marriages on Huntington's theory- followed then by refreshments and general conversation.
