The political phenomena of the contemporary world are more disturbing than they were in previous times. Upheaval and unease have prevailed throughout religions, economic systems, cultures, traditions and values, due to attempts by different civilizations to forcefully infuse particular ideas over the entire world.
Today, it is the Western and the Eastern Muslim world that are standing up against each other. Each of them is the preacher of a particular civilization. Their mutual conflicts have been going on for more than fourteen hundred years and still continue. The contemporary events of attacks in the last few years from the Western world to the Muslim territories like as Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq including the threats of attacks on Iran, Yemen, and Pakistani tribal areas and the Muslim extremist activities against the Western benefits show the serious situation of the maintenance of peace and security condition in the entire world. What is the nature of clash? Why did they remain in conflict? What will be the future aspects of their relations?
While also regarding other religions, e.g. Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism, this paper pursues the above-mentioned questions trying to find possibilities to unite those seemingly opposing cultures.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Clash of Civilizations
1.2 Paradoxical Mutual Understanding
1.3 Future Possibilities
1.4 Natural Process of Clash Among Groups
1.5 Objectives of the Thesis
1.6 Significance of the Thesis
1.7 Organization of the Thesis
2. Types of Civilizations
2.1 Significance and Types with Regard to Potential Clash
2.2 The ‘West’ a Specific Civilization
2.3 Eastern Civilizatioinal Distinctions
2.4 Specific Jewish Civilizational Orders
2.5 Muslim Religious Civilization: Discontents and Distinctions
3. The Muslim World: Specifications of Religion, Culture and Civilization.
3.1 The Muslim Civilization: Fundamental Religious Teachings.
3.2 Muslim Culture: Religion and Traditions
3.3 Importance of Religion in the Muslim Life
3.4 Israel with Regard to Muslim Perception: A Root Cause of Muslim World Problems
3.5 The Muslim World: Unstable Peace Condition
4. Clash of Civilizations: The Muslim World and the ‘West’
4.1 Ruling over the World: the Muslim Religious Desire
4.2 Discontents Between Islam and the West
4.3 Disputed Definition of Welfare
4.4 Westernization of the World
4.5 Discontents of Contemporary Issues
5. Future Aspects of the Muslim World
5.1 Possibility of Tolerance and Alliance
5.2 Reformation of Democracy
5.3 Fundamentalism
5.4 Revival of Classical Heritage
5.5 Continual Mutual Discontents
6. Challenges to the Western World and Possible Stability
6.1 Eradication of the Causes of Fundamentalism
6.2 Affable Political ‘West’
6.3 Justifiable Economics
6.4 Towards the Religious Realities
6.5 Possibility of Peace: A Review of Semitic Celestial Literature
Thesis Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis investigates the multifaceted dynamics and enduring conflicts between the Western world and the Muslim world, exploring how differing historical, religious, and cultural frameworks contribute to contemporary geopolitical tensions and the search for stability.
- The historical roots and modern manifestations of the "Clash of Civilizations."
- Religious identity as a central driver of societal organization and geopolitical discord.
- The impact of Westernization and globalization on traditional Islamic values and political structures.
- Economic disparities and political instability as catalysts for fundamentalism and regional conflict.
- Potential pathways for peace through tolerance, dialogue, and mutual understanding.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS
It is necessary to comprehend the significance of civilization before step to clash among civilizations. Because a particular civilization has its own distinctive values which do not match with that of another civilization the most and this difference is in fact the cause of clash between two or more civilizations. Civilization is in fact a communal division of groups. It is of different characteristics as efficiency in food production, technological advancement, ways of agriculture, inventions, mathematics, science, and even morals and ideas.2 A civilization has its own particular criteria which differs from all that of others. Although the phrase ‘civilization’ is used for a developed and progressed community, but here it is used for every community, which is developed or not developed does not matter. The main aim is to show their mutual contacts and discontents, how much they are useful or how much they are harmless for peace and prosperity. Partition of kinds of civilizations is not easy as different authors divided it in different ways. In fact, regions, languages, values of economic, religions and races, work as factors to establish and define a particular civilization. However, religion is the base of every civilization and it has deep effects on the lives and the traditions of the peoples of a particular civilization more than all other factors. It is no doubt the Western and the Eastern Muslim civilizations have different ideas and facts of those as mentioned above which are the cause of clash the most while both are agreed in many modern traditions.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the political landscape and defines the scope of the clash between Western and Muslim civilizations.
Types of Civilizations: Categorizes and characterizes major civilizations, focusing on Western, Eastern, and Muslim cultural and political distinctiveness.
The Muslim World: Specifications of Religion, Culture and Civilization.: Analyzes the fundamental role of religion, culture, and traditions in shaping the identity of the Muslim world.
Clash of Civilizations: The Muslim World and the ‘West’: Examines specific tensions, including disputes over welfare definitions, westernization, and contemporary political issues.
Future Aspects of the Muslim World: Discusses prospects for tolerance, democratic reforms, and the potential for long-term coexistence.
Challenges to the Western World and Possible Stability: Proposes methods to mitigate fundamentalism and foster peace, emphasizing religious understanding and economic justice.
Keywords
Clash of Civilizations, Muslim World, Western World, Fundamentalism, Jihad, Secularism, Religion, Culture, Geopolitics, Modernization, Westernization, Democracy, Middle East, Semitic Religions, Peace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The research explores the underlying reasons and historical contexts for the ongoing tensions between Western and Muslim civilizations, analyzing them as a complex clash of values, traditions, and political interests.
What are the core themes addressed in this work?
Key themes include religious identity, the definition and impact of civilization, the challenge of fundamentalism, economic development in Muslim nations, and the political rivalry between the West and the Islamic world.
What is the central research question?
The thesis seeks to understand why, despite historical interactions, these two major civilizations remain in a state of conflict and whether a foundation for peaceful coexistence can be established.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The author utilizes a descriptive, analytical, and qualitative approach to examine historical, religious, and contemporary political data regarding the interactions of these civilizations.
What subjects are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the classification of civilizations, the cultural and religious specifications of the Muslim world, the root causes of discontents between Islam and the West, and future scenarios for regional and global stability.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The most relevant keywords include Clash of Civilizations, fundamentalism, Islam, Westernization, political stability, and religious dialogue.
How does the author characterize the role of religion in the clash?
The author argues that religion serves as the foundational element of every civilization, acting as the primary mover in shaping both individual lives and the geopolitical stances of societies.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the prospect of peace?
The author suggests that while historical discontents are deep, achieving peace requires a focus on mutual respect, understanding of religious realities, and a movement towards a more equitable and tolerant global dialogue.
- Citar trabajo
- Phd Ghulam Zikria (Autor), 2009, The Clash of Civilizations and the Muslim World, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/371215
