PSIR Simplified

In 1993, three decades ago the noted American Political Scientist, Samuel Huntington laid down his ‘Clash of Civilizations’ thesis in an article published in the Foreign Affairs. This thesis came in response to another hypothesis called ‘End of History’ articulated by Huntington’s former student Francis Fukuyama. The End of History hypothesis was based on the assumption that the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 is the proof of final victory of democracy and capitalism over socialism, communism and authoritarianism.  The ideological clash between Capitalism and Communism was a major theme of cold war global politics. The end of history somehow hints the end of ideological conflict also. However, Huntington argued that in place of ideological clashes, the clashes between major civilizations would be the dominant feature of post-cold war international politics. Later Huntington elaborated his clash of civilization thesis in his 1996 book, ‘The Clash of Civilizations and Remaking of World Order’.

What is Clash of Civilizations Thesis?

Huntington argues that the fundamental source of conflict in the new world will not be primarily ideological or economic. The dominating source of conflict among nations will be cultural, as the principal conflicts of global politics will occur between nations and groups of different civilizations. The clash of civilizations will dominate global politics in future (Huntington: 1993, 1996). Though the phrase ‘Clash of Civilization’ has been used by many scholars earlier like Alburt Camus in 1946, Girilal Jain in 1988 with respect to Ayodhya dispute and American scholar Bernard Lewis in 1990, but it was Huntington who articulated and popularized this thesis.

Huntington has identified some major contemporary global civilizations to explain future civilizational conflicts. According to him the major civilizations of the world are: Western Civilization consisting of US, Canada, Central and Western Europe, Philippines, Australia and Oceana;  Latin American Civilization including South America;  Orthodox Civilization comprising East Europe and Soviet Union; Sinic Civilization comprising of China, Singapore, Vietnam, Koreas and Taiwan; Japanese Civilization; Hindu Civilization comprising India and Nepal; Islamic Civilization comprising of  Greater Middle East and North Africa, South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and East Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei; and Civilization of Sub-Saharan Africa comprising Southern Africa and Middle Africa. Though Huntington has identified above major civilizations, but he emphasized that the future conflicts would be centred on the clash between the Western and non-Western civilizations. Another British scholar Stuart Hall has expressed similar idea though his notion of the conflict between the ‘West Vs the Rest’. In fact, during the first two decades after the end of cold war, the West’s clash with Islamic groups and nations imparted credence to this conclusion. The events like 9/11 and American military action in Afghanistan against Al Qaeda in 2001, American war in Iraq in 2003, western military actions in Libya and Syria in the second decade of this century, America’s war against the Islamic State, and Western sanctions against Iran and their outright support to Israel’s fight against Palestinians attest the dominant pattern of the conflict between the Judaeo-Christian civilization and the countries and the groups following Islamic Civilization.

This thesis helps in understanding many of the post-cold war conflicts mainly the Middle East Conflict including the ongoing Hamas-Israel Conflict. The Middle East conflict revolves around the Palestinian issue. It is one of the most complex and long persisting issues of international politics. In this conflict the basic issue of the conflict has the demand of Palestinians to establish their homeland in the same place where Israel has established its home lands. Now Palestine demand is diluted and they have come to demand a two-state solution where both Palestine and Israel will coexist. However, the radical elements of Palestinians like Hamas still stick to the original demand of the Palestinians. While Palestinian cause has support from Arab countries as well as Iran, Israel is politically and militarily supported by the US and her western allies. The conflict between Arab and Israel has led to four major wars (1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973) since the establishment of state of Israel in the area, which was earlier called as Palestine. The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel is just a part of the long drawn Arab Israel conflict since 1948.

Hamas-Israel Conflict, 2023

The ongoing one sided violent conflict between Israel and Hamas since October, 2023 may not end soon. The present round of conflict between Hamas and Israel started on 07 October, 2023 when Hamas launched a surprise and violent attack against Israel killing 1139 Israeli civilians and security persons and taking 250 Israeli citizens and soldiers as hostage. In retaliation, Israel has launched a massive attack on Gaza strip where military and political structures of hams are located both on-ground and underground. In the year long war, about 41000 Palestinians, mostly women and children in Gaza have been killed and another 96000 have been wounded. According to World Food Programme (WFP), 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are still in urgent need of food and livelihood assistance (Motamedi: 2024). Israel’s year long military action in Gaza has created the worst humanitarian disaster of this century.

This is not the first time that Israel and Hamas are engaged in violent conflict. Hamas stands for Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-Islāmiyyah (in Arabic), meaning ‘Islamic Resistance Movement’ was founded by a Palestinian Imam and Sunni activist named Ahmad Yassin in 1987. Hamas, a Sunni extremist outfit does not recognize the existence of Israel as a Jews state on the Palestinian land. It openly promotes anti-Semitism ideology. Hamas wants to establish an independent Palestine state on the same territory where Israel is located by all means including violence. These ideological points are included in the 1988 Charter of Hamas. However, there is some softening of Hamas views on anti-Semitism in the 2017 Charter, but Hamas is still vehemently opposed to Zionism– the ideology calling for political homeland of Jews at Palestine (Hamed:2023).

Thus, Hamas did not support the Oslo Accord, 1993 between Israel and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which led the establishment of ‘Palestine Authority’ (initial form of Palestine State) in two territories West Bank and Gaza Strip, which are not contiguous to each other. The Oslo Accord has created rift between hard line Palestine group Hamas and liberal group Al Fatah. During the 2006 elections, Hamas secured the majority but Al Fatah did not hand over the power to Hamas, which resulted in violent clashes between the two groups. Hamas occupied Gaza in 2007 following this clash and Al Fatah remained in West Bank. Hamas with the support of other countries and groups has created a viable military and political infrastructure in Gaza strip. It has tacit support from Iran and other similar organizations like Hezbollah, base in Lebanon and Houthis based in Yemen. Hams has been launching attacks against Israel and both have been involved in major conflicts four times in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021. This is fifth time that Israel and Hams are involved in a major conflict. However, the 2023-24 conflict is distinct in the sense that Israel has resolved to eliminate the entire existence of Hamas from Gaza and West Bank. Thus, Israel’s war target has led to widespread violence and killing of innocent people in Gaza, which resulted in the worst humanitarian crisis.  Israel is disregarding the international opinion as well as many resolutions of the UN General Assembly to halt the military operations in Gaza. There have been many rounds of negotiations between Israel and Hamas through Qatar, Egypt and US mediators, but no solution has been found so far. Even if the present round of war ends through mediation or decimation of Hamas the conflict will not end. Hamas is not just organization, but an idea which has suitable soil in the Middle East to spring out again in the near future. Another likely scenario is the possibility of escalation of Hamas- Israel conflict into a regional conflict involving Iran and Israel as well as their supporters. Iran has developed a network of non-state actors in the region- Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and Houthis in Yemen, which have considerable military resources to prolong the conflict between Israel and Arab world even after the fall of Hamas.

Civilizational Dimensions of Hamas-Israel Conflict

The cultural and civilizational dimensions of Hamas Israel conflict are inherent in the background of this conflict as well as the religious importance of the land of Palestine where at present the state of Israel is located. Before the WWI, the area of Palestine was under the control of Ottoman Empire. After the defeat and dissolution of Ottoman Empire in the WWI, the area was Palestine was brought under the supervision of Britain as a mandate territory of League of Nations, established in 1920.

A. The Zionism and Israeli Homeland in Palestine

It was during this period that large numbers of Jews migrated to Palestine, which was projected as Jews homeland under the newly launched movement of Zionism.  The Zionism is a Jewish ideology and international movement with a goal of creation and support of a Jewish national state in Palestine, which is considered the ancient homeland of the Jews. Zionist movement was launched by an Austrian journalist Theodor Herzl in 1897 with the objective of creating a home (State) in Palestine for the Jewish people. Though Zionism originated in the latter part of the 19th century, it is in many ways a continuation of the ancient attachment of the Jews and of the Jewish people to the historical region of Palestine. As per the religious belief of Jews, their God dwells in Zion, which is a hill in Jerusalem (Britannica: Retrieved 2024).  The ancient temple of Jews was located in the temple Mount in Jerusalem. The temple was destroyed but its remaining Western wall, also known as Wailing Wall is the most sacred place of Jews located in Jerusalem. It should be noted that Jerusalem is equally sacred to Christians as Jesus Christ was born in a place near Jerusalem where now the Church of Nativity (also known as Church of Holy Sepulchre) still exists.

With the support of British government, it was easy for the migration to their ancient home land in 1920s and later to the place which was known as Palestine. The Belfour Declaration issued by the British Foreign Secretary in 1917 supported the cause of Jews in Palestine. The repressive policies by German Chancellor Hitler in 1930s against Jews led their further migration to Palestine in interwar years. The Zionist movement later led by Chaim Weizmann laid foundation of the first Jewish state in Palestine in 1948. The Palestine continued to be Trust (Mandate) Territory under the United Nations which was established in 1945. Britain expressed its desire to leave its mandate in 1948, which facilitated the establishment of Israel in the land which was known as Palestine.

B. Al Aqsa Mosque and Palestine Nakba

The Palestine and its city Jerusalem also hold equal importance to Muslims. There are three holy places in Islam-Mecca, median and Al Aqsa mosque. The Al Aqsa mosque is located in Jerusalem at a place which is known as Temple mount for Jews. Muslims believe that Prophet Mohammad made his last journey to heaven from the Rock of Dome, which is also located in Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Zeidan: Retrieved 2024). Muslims living in Jerusalem and other parts of the world make pilgrimage to this site. The visits to temple and prayers by followers of Islam have been bone of contention between Israel and Muslims as law and order in the town is maintained by the Israeli security forces.

Israel was formed in 1948 on the land which was considered as sacred by Muslims. This led to the first Arab-Israel war in 1948, which resulted in the victory of Israel with the support of the US and other western countries. But this war also resulted in the mass migration of Palestinians from this land. This migration is known as Nakba in Islam. The Nakba, which means “catastrophe” in Arabic, refers to the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Before the Nakba, Palestine was a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. This was the culmination of the conflict between Arabs and Jews which began in the 1930s with the increase of Jewish immigration, driven by persecution in Europe, and with the Zionist movement aiming to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. Before the establishment of Israel in 1948, the UN General Assembly passed a Resolution in November, 1947 by which it partitioned Palestine into two states: Israel and Palestine, but the UN plan was rejected by the Palestinians and other Arab states (UN: 2024). Since then, Israel has been consolidating her position in the Palestine with the support of the US and other western countries. In spite of the support by Arab states, the position of Palestinians has weakened and the two state solution of the problem has become a distant possibility due to two factors: First, the radical elements within Palestine like Hamas are not willing to agree to two state solution; and Second, Israel too is not willing to actively support this idea in view of her security concerns. Palestinians have launched mass agitation known as Intifada to liberate their homeland but have not succeeded so far. Whatever may the outcome of the ongoing Hamas-Israel war, but the solution to the Palestinian problem is not is sight.

C. Clash Between Judaeo-Christian and Islamic Civilization

If we carefully analyze the narrative of and actions of the both sides in the conflict, it appears that Hamas-Israel conflict as a part of the larger Palestinian problems present a case of clash of two civilizations: the Judaeo-Christian civilization represented by Israel and supported by Western countries and the US on the one hand and the Islamic civilization represented earlier by the PLO and now by Hamas and directly and indirectly supported by Arab states as well as Iran. In this seven decade old problem, the entire Christian World led by the US has extended unqualified military and political support to Israel, which has emboldened Israel’s political and military ambitions in the region. The presence US forces in the Middle East is crucial for the long term security of Israel amidst Arab states.  On the other hand Islamic countries cannot allow free hand to Israel in Palestine as this involves their religious identity. The extremist groups like Hamas have wide support among Palestinians due to this religious identity. In spite of involvement of many regional and strategic issues in the Palestinian problem, it is safe to argue that the civilizational and religious aspects of this problem have made it more complex and difficult problem to be resolved. Thus, Huntington’s thesis of clash of civilization is attested in this conflict. There are many scholars who underline the importance of Huntington’s clash of civilization thesis in modern global politics, India’s former Army Chief, Lt Gen Naravane (2024) argues that One of the most salient examples of the relevance of Huntington’s theory today is the ongoing tensions between the mostly Christian West and the Middle-Eastern Islamic civilizations and between democratic and authoritarian systems. From the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the rise of jihadist terrorism – including the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict – to the refugee crisis in Europe, the clash between Western and Islamic civilizations remains a defining feature of the contemporary geopolitical landscape. 

Conclusion

No doubt, the dynamics of Hamas-Israel conflict along with its background as well as religious narrative presents a case approving the Clash of Civilization thesis as advanced by Huntington. But there are some scholars like Peter Oborne (2018) who claims that Huntington’s thesis on clash of civilization in post-cold war period has proved to be academically worthless and intellectually catastrophe.  In order to prove his point, Oborne argues that Saudi Arabia (the leader of Arab world) continues to be close American ally and there are tensions between two Muslim states: Iran and Saudi Arabia for the regional hegemony. The signing of Abraham Accords in 2020-21 between Arab states (UAE, Sudan, Bahrain, and Morocco) and Israel also goes against the Clash of civilizations thesis. Again it can be argued that the religious and civilizational dimension of the Hamas-Israel conflict predates even the cold war era in past century. It means that the cultural elements have always been significant factors for conflict and cooperation among nations. In spite of these criticisms and reservations, the argument of clash of civilization cannot be brushed aside. It is true that civilizational conflicts and identity politics have become more pronounced in post-cold war era in comparison to cold war era. The Hamas-Israel conflict contains civilizations dimension, which makes it a unique as well as a complex problem in 21^st century.

REFERENCES

Britannica (Retrieved 2024) Zionism: National Movement. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Available At: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zionism

Hamed, Qossay (2023). Hamas in Power: The Question of Transformation. IGI Global. p. 161.

Huntington, Samuel P (1993) The Clash of Civilizations? Foreign Affairs, vol. 72, no 3, pp. 22-49. Available At: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20045621?origin=crossref

Huntington, Samuel P (1996) The Clash of Civilizations and Remaking of World Order. Penguin Random House.

Motamedi, Maziar and Usaid Siddiqui (2024) Israel’s war on Gaza Live: 2.2 million Palestinians are in urgent need of aid.  Al Jazeera, 9 September, 2024. Available At: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/9/9/israels-war-on-gaza-live-school-year-starts-without-60000-gaza-students

Naravane, Gen MM, Retd (2024) Clash of Civilizations’ theory being put to test today. See Iran-Israel conflict. Opinion, 29 April, 2024, The Print. Available At: https://theprint.in/opinion/clash-of-civilizations-theory-being-put-to-test-today-see-iran-israel-conflict/2060792/

Oborne, Peter (2018) 25 years on, Huntington’s ‘clash of civilisations’ theory has been refuted. Middle East Eye, Opinion/Analysis, 10 December, 2018. Available At: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/25-years-huntingtons-clash-civilisations-theory-has-been-refuted

UN (2024) The Question of Palestine. United Nations. Available At: https://www.un.org/unispal/about-the-nakba/

Zeidan, Adam (retrieved 2024) Al Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Available At: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Al-Aqsa-Mosque