07-30-2004, 04:07 AM
Every Indian must read -- Simplistic 'civilizational clash'
By Hindu Sitah 30/03/2003 At 15:22
Simplistic 'civilizational clash'--- Every Indian must read
Simplistic 'civilizational clash'
-- By N S Rajaram
**********************************************
It is a cause for concern that some organizations are publicly supporting the US attack on Iraq guided by Huntington's 'Clash of Civilizations' thesis. The underlying assumption is that it is part of the 'Christian' US war against Islam. This is a serious misreading-- an oversimplification that can cost India dear when the real war against Islam begins. Here are some thoughts on the subject.
The US war is for economic dominance that is threatened by two forces-- the European challenge and the rising assertiveness in the oil rich Islamic world. The US became aggressive only when Iran and Iraq -- both former client states -- slipped out of the US hold. It is the same with France and Germany. This will be the fate of Pakistan also if it tries to throw off the US yoke. There is a rider though-- the US may not want to risk a ground war in Pakistan, especially since unlike in the Middle East, no economic interests are at stake.
<b>This holds the key: the US sees itself as a political and economic powerhouse and not as the leader of a civilization</b>. Having lived in the US for nearly a quarter century, I can say without hesitation that the American elite freely accepts that it is a cultural satellite of Europe. Favourite American composers are Europeans. Touring European musicians, even Russians are accorded a disproportionate regard that is denied to Americans, even if they are superior. Just see how many American orchestra conductors are European born though there are better ones in the US.
Yet, America is prepared to see the decline of Europe in order to maintain its economic strength. For the US, economy comes first, not civilization or religion. The same is true though perhaps to a lesser degree with the Europeans. The great mistake that Indian leaders, especially those who come from religious roots, is to think that the US and the West in general is Christian and it is Islam for the sake of Christianity. Nothing could be further removed from reality. While many Hindus (and Muslims) are prepared to die for their religion, <b>I don't know a single European who would lay down his life to protect the Pope or the Vatican.</b> The Pope surely knows this, which partly explains his conciliatory attitude towards Islam.
The situation is fraught with uncertainty. It would be extremely unwise for India to take a position of unequivocal support to the US in the belief that it is on 'our side' in the non-existent clash of civilizations. After all, we heard similar arguments soon after the September 11 attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon. What happened? The US 'war on terrorism' turned the world's worst sponsor of terror into its prime ally. And despite sympathetic noises, the US and the UK have done nothing to stop the terrorism against India.
The lesson from all this is that there are no intellectual shortcuts. We must do independent thinking and evolve our own strategic vision and not borrow simplistic academic theories like the clash of civilizations.
By Hindu Sitah 30/03/2003 At 15:22
Simplistic 'civilizational clash'--- Every Indian must read
Simplistic 'civilizational clash'
-- By N S Rajaram
**********************************************
It is a cause for concern that some organizations are publicly supporting the US attack on Iraq guided by Huntington's 'Clash of Civilizations' thesis. The underlying assumption is that it is part of the 'Christian' US war against Islam. This is a serious misreading-- an oversimplification that can cost India dear when the real war against Islam begins. Here are some thoughts on the subject.
The US war is for economic dominance that is threatened by two forces-- the European challenge and the rising assertiveness in the oil rich Islamic world. The US became aggressive only when Iran and Iraq -- both former client states -- slipped out of the US hold. It is the same with France and Germany. This will be the fate of Pakistan also if it tries to throw off the US yoke. There is a rider though-- the US may not want to risk a ground war in Pakistan, especially since unlike in the Middle East, no economic interests are at stake.
<b>This holds the key: the US sees itself as a political and economic powerhouse and not as the leader of a civilization</b>. Having lived in the US for nearly a quarter century, I can say without hesitation that the American elite freely accepts that it is a cultural satellite of Europe. Favourite American composers are Europeans. Touring European musicians, even Russians are accorded a disproportionate regard that is denied to Americans, even if they are superior. Just see how many American orchestra conductors are European born though there are better ones in the US.
Yet, America is prepared to see the decline of Europe in order to maintain its economic strength. For the US, economy comes first, not civilization or religion. The same is true though perhaps to a lesser degree with the Europeans. The great mistake that Indian leaders, especially those who come from religious roots, is to think that the US and the West in general is Christian and it is Islam for the sake of Christianity. Nothing could be further removed from reality. While many Hindus (and Muslims) are prepared to die for their religion, <b>I don't know a single European who would lay down his life to protect the Pope or the Vatican.</b> The Pope surely knows this, which partly explains his conciliatory attitude towards Islam.
The situation is fraught with uncertainty. It would be extremely unwise for India to take a position of unequivocal support to the US in the belief that it is on 'our side' in the non-existent clash of civilizations. After all, we heard similar arguments soon after the September 11 attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon. What happened? The US 'war on terrorism' turned the world's worst sponsor of terror into its prime ally. And despite sympathetic noises, the US and the UK have done nothing to stop the terrorism against India.
The lesson from all this is that there are no intellectual shortcuts. We must do independent thinking and evolve our own strategic vision and not borrow simplistic academic theories like the clash of civilizations.