<em>The Clash of Civilizations</em> Was an Inside Job
The Atlantic
February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Samuel P. Huntington's *The Clash of Civilizations*, published 30 years ago, became a influential tract after the September 11 attacks, with its premise of civilizations clashing along cultural fault lines resonating globally. However, upon closer examination, Huntington's predictions have proven partially accurate but also notably flawed. While the book captured the essence of post-Cold War ideological shifts, it failed to anticipate how global power dynamics would evolve.
Instead of civilization clashes dominating international relations, modern rivalries are increasingly driven by great powers like China and Russia. Huntington's theory underestimated the enduring impact of state-level competition, with countries such as Japan withdrawing from the global stage and India navigating complex alliances rather than adhering to predicted cultural divisions. Europe, despite its economic might, remains politically fragmented, unable to assert itself as a cohesive actor on the global stage.
The true complexity lies in the internal conflicts within cultures, particularly within Islamic states, which have often overshadowed inter-civilizational tensions. This underscores the
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Originally published on The Atlantic on 2/14/2026