A work equally distorted by his followers as detractors

Whereas it was so much about this book which was eventually forgot to read it, I started in the 500 pages of his pocket edition (Odile Jacob). Written 14 years ago already, "The Clash of Civilizations" is an important book for understanding the early twenty-first century, as it has profoundly influenced - that is undeniable - the nature of international relations since the end of the Cold War, both adherence sometimes caricatured it has generated among some or rejection sometimes also dyed misunderstanding that caused elsewhere. Whatever one may think (good or bad), Huntington's book is an important book for understanding our world.

I remember for example (page 18): "The West must recognize that their civilization is unique but not universal and unite to give it force against the challenges posed by non-Western societies. We will avoid a general war between civilizations whether in the world, political leaders recognize that global politics has become multicivilisationelle and cooperate to preserve this state of affairs. "

Or page 61, in the heyday of the West: "The West won the world not because his ideas, values, religion was superior (there were few members of other civilizations to convert) but rather by its superiority in organizing organized violence. Westerners often forget, but non-Westerners never. In 1910 the world was much more unified politically and economically than at any other time in the history of mankind. "

The chapter on language fascinated me, especially refuting the arguments making English a world language "in this sense is the English way of global intercultural communication, such as the Christian calendar is the world of fashion cutting time, the Arabic numerals global dialing mode and the metric system, in large part, the global measurement mode. Though English is used as intercultural communication. The presupposes distinct cultures. It is a communication tool, not a vector of identity or a community link. The fact that a Japanese banker and a man of Indonesian affair speak English does not mean they are westernized or anglicized. Likewise for the German and French speaking Swiss: they communicate with each other both in English and in one or the other of their national languages ​​"(page 77).

Or (page 141): "In this sense, the revival of non-Western religions is the most powerful manifestation of anti-Westernism in non-Western societies. This revival is not a rejection of modernity; it is a rejection of the West and secular culture, relativistic, degenerate that is associated with the West (...) It is a declaration of cultural independence from the West, a proud affirmation : We will be modern, but we will not be you! ".

In concluding (page 480): "Multiculturalism threat from inside the United States and the West; Universalism threatens the West and the world. These two trends each deny the uniqueness of Western culture. The monoculturalists want the world to be like America. Multiculturalists want America to be like the world. A multicultural America is impossible because a non-Western America may not American. A multicultural fashion is inevitable because a global empire is impossible. Backing the United States and the West must pass through the renewal of Western identity. The security of the world is inconceivable without the acceptance of the plurality of cultures. "

Ultimately, the book of Huntington, who is in the "Grammar of Civilizations" in our Braudel lot of its "fuel" is a fascinating book and asks the right questions. Unfortunately, it was much distorted in its political transpositions by its detractors as supporters.