Huntington’s Thesis 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.

Huntington Basic Predictions About Conflict Former Yugoslavia as an example 1. “Civilizations” are becoming more important to people’s identities 2. 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. 3. Borders between civilizations are likely locations of conflict. 4. “Kin Country Syndrome”: Nations and people will rally to the defense of their civilizational “kin.”

God’s Century, Chap. 6 Trends: From the 1940s to the 2000s, a rise in the percentage of civil wars that are religious. 1940s 19%, 1950s 30%, 1960s 22%, 1970s 36%, 1980s 41%, 1990s 45%, 2000s 50% Religious civil wars tend to be longer and bloodier A high number, including intrafaith wars, involve Islam -Islamic states undergoing democratization -transnational jihadist ideas -conflict over resources in Muslim areas (especially oil)

Why do we see more religious civil war and see it where we do? Why is religion more relevant? Where and when will conflict break out? 1. Failure of modernism and secular ideologies 2. Democratization opens up the question of the proper place of religion 3. Religion and religious networks have become transnational 1. Political Theology 2. Integration of Religious and Political Actors favors Civil War Consensual Integration between the state and one religious group excludes others who may turn to violence (Sunnis in Iraq) Hostile Integration may lead religious actors to violently resist a secular state (Algeria)

Syria as test case..