Clashes of Civilization

"It is my hypothesis that the fundamental source of conflict in this new world will not be primarily ideological or primarily economic. The great divisions among humankind and the dominating source of conflict will be cultural. Nation states will remain the most powerful actors in world affairs, but the principal conflicts of global politics will occur between nations and groups of different civilizations. The clash of civilizations will dominate global politics. The fault lines between civilizations will be the battle lines of the future." - Samuel Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order.

Huntington’s thesis might be chilly to believe but the good scientist got it all right. Was Huntington a prophet or a charlatan? Neither if you ask me. He is rather a very keen and observant scientist who saw patterns of cultural and linguistic similarities. According to his thesis, the major hotspots for a potential war zone are where two different cultures are in the opposite side.

I wish the many Filipinos will be able to read his work. For centuries, Filipino Christians and Filipino Muslims are ripping each other apart simply because of religion. One nation yet two cultures so what is the sum of these? A recipe for a divided nation.