BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

FUTURE OF CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS

Author: Md. Shamsul Islam

DOI Link: DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2005v26n1a5

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this article is to discuss the future of clash of civilizations and to emphasize the need for dialogue between civilizations. It first illustrates the essential points that now concern Islam as a factor in current international politics. First, the resurrection of Islam in global agenda is seen as a reaction to Western materialism and decaying culture. Second, it is the Muslim's inability or failure to respond 10 the Western modernization processes which is viewed as the factor for its resuscitation. The author argues that the future of clash of civilizations depends on two determinants -ongoing war on terrorism; and prospect of democratization and political legitimacy in the Muslim World. The author also argues that the paradox in Muslim societies is that the political elites always use religion to achieve their goals, on the one hand but violate the Islamic religious principles, on the other. By emphasizing the need for dialogue the author concludes that the politics and promises of dialogue depend much on how the parties,i.e. Islam and West tend to evaluate each other