Evolution of the Concept: From Enlightenment to Cultural Pluralism
The concept of civilization has come a long way from the 18th-century universalist Enlightenment vision. Initially, it was perceived as a linear process of humanity emerging from barbarism toward rationalism, with the West serving as the model.
Today, the term functions in the plural, describing the world as a constellation of distinct, self-sufficient cultural entities. Each possesses its own dynamics, symbol system, and religious foundation, which precludes the existence of a single, common path of development for all of humanity.
Spengler vs. Toynbee: Determinism vs. Choice
Oswald Spengler viewed civilizations as historical organisms subject to inevitable life cycles. In his vision, the civilization phase was the declining stage of cultural ossification, heralding its collapse.
Arnold Toynbee proposed a more dynamic model based on the mechanism of challenge and response. The development of a civilization depended on the creativity of its elites; when they lost their capacity for adaptation, the system fell into routine and eventually collapsed.
Fukuyama: The Fall of the Myth of Liberal Triumph
Francis Fukuyama’s "one world" paradigm assumed that liberal democracy represented the final destination of history. The reality of the 1990s—ethnic wars and the rise of China’s power—brutally debunked this thesis, proving the persistence of particularistic identities.
Realism: The State as the Foundation of World Order
Despite globalization, the nation-state remains a key actor in international relations. Crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic showed that only the state apparatus is capable of effectively ensuring security and mobilizing resources in extreme situations.
The Clash of Civilizations: Identity as a Source of Conflict
Samuel Huntington posited that in the new order, the source of disputes is not ideology, but culture and religion. The boundaries between civilizations are becoming "fault lines" along which the bloodiest conflicts of the modern era are born.
Modernization Without Westernization: Resistance of Local Cultures
Adopting modern technologies does not mean the automatic acceptance of Western values. Islamic or Asian societies are modernizing while maintaining their own individualism, secularism, and pluralism, which serves as a correction to old convergence theories.
Torn Countries: Identity Crisis of Elites and Societies
States such as Turkey, Russia, or Mexico are torn countries, where pro-Western elites clash with traditionalist societies. Attempts at civilizational transplantation often end in deep internal destabilization.
Huntington vs. Keohane: The Primacy of Culture over Institutions
Robert Keohane believed in the power of international institutions to mitigate conflict. Huntington, however, warned that organizations like NATO or the EU are only as durable as the cultural foundations that bind them remain strong.
Kenneth Waltz: Culture Defines the System Structure
Kenneth Waltz focused on the balance of power and the anarchy of the system. Huntington complemented this vision by pointing out that cultural identity determines state behavior as strongly as the cold calculation of power and survival.
The Decline of the West: Loss of Demographic Advantage
Western dominance is eroding due to its shrinking share of the global population and economy. Power is becoming diffused, and non-Western civilizations are becoming independent norm-setting centers, building their own self-confidence.
Kin-Country Syndrome: Escalation of Conflicts
In fault-line conflicts, there is a phenomenon of support for combatants by states from the same cultural sphere. This kin-country syndrome means that local disputes can quickly escalate into regional conflagrations.
The Principle of Abstention: The Foundation of World Peace
Stability requires that great civilizations refrain from intervening in others' spheres of influence. Peace is only possible by recognizing the autonomy of others and renouncing the imposition of the West's universalist claims.
Core States: New Leaders of Civilizational Blocs
The new cartography of the world is based on core states, such as the USA, China, or Russia. Smaller countries gravitate toward them, seeking protection and the affirmation of their identity within a given bloc.
The Myth of Universalism: Why a Global Culture Does Not Exist
A common global civilization is an illusion. There is only a "thin" morality—a set of basic prohibitions (e.g., against murder) that allows for peaceful coexistence without negating cultural differences.
Ecotopia and Technology: Alternative Visions of the Future
The future may be defined by the challenges of the Anthropocene and the climate crisis, which force cooperation across divisions. Conversely, the development of artificial intelligence, according to Ray Kurzweil, could lead to an ontological change in humanity, making old disputes secondary.
Postcolonial critics, such as Edward Said, warn that the "clash" narrative is a Eurocentric framework of dominance. Perhaps the key to survival is not a battle of monoliths, but hybridization and the synthesis of differing values in the face of planetary threats.
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