Samuel P. Huntington 1993, in his work, “the clash of civilization” denotes how the world politics is entering a new phase. At this stage, he recounts on how the conflict pulls of religion, tribalism and globalization are re-emerging. His arguments represent what most scholars and researchers believe on in respect to West-Islam relationship. In one accord, they believe that, these movements are most likely to marginalize Islam while at the same time making the West triumphant and vulnerable. Thus, Islam-Western specter is stirring abroad.
According documentary records, Islam, Judaism and Christianity are closely linked, especially in their origin and believe in one God. Jerusalem was considered a Holy City for the trio-religious communities. The holy land was regarded as a place of worship by all these religions with each given special privileges. However, as time lapses, Christianity overtook the city, thus resulting in the decline of the other three forms of religions. They dominated the Holy land and predicted that their messiah will be born in the Land. Fortunately, Jesus Christ was born, raised and worked in this holy city. This trend made Christians develop their specialty notion among the three religions. As revealed by various documentary records, these movements are believed to the onset of the long time rivalry that has ever existed among the Muslims and west who are mainly Christians.
Today, Islam as a religion and its people has often been at odd with core values of the Western world. These values are not limited to politics, human rights, secularization, democracy, and progress. This form of discord has made Islam be driven by antipathy. Across the globe, the Islamic societies have unanimously agreed to establish obscurest, misogynist and repressive regimes that advocate violence against the West rather than democracy and peace. This trend of co-existence has resulted in varied forms of debate on whether the Islamic paradigm is fixed on the completion among the religions or on its law.
The relationship between Islam and the Western nations provides a clear picture of the Soviet-Western standoff in the post-colonial era. Documentary record called “peace of the brave” indicates that the western world political regimes have waged a significant impact of war mainly to quench their personal gains. As revealed in varied researches, as much as political and economic agendas have captured relatively high attention than the religious issues, it is apparent enough to speculate and believe that cultural conflict between Islam and Western world is also a problem. Samuel P. Huntington 1993, in his work, “the clash of civilization” continues to acknowledge that these differences are majorly embedded in different religious belief in God and his relationship with mankind. This trend makes majority of scholars believe that there is no better course that conflict pattern has chosen except for humiliation and darkness.
Fortunately, as the relationship persists; various efforts of mediation have been placed forward in order to resolve the problems. On 9 September 1993, the Palestine prime minister signed a Declaration of Principles that marked a new revolution on the possibility of peace between Islam and the Western World. He signed and confirmed the new PLO agreements. I believe that this commitment provided a new era between the two extremes and provided coinciding factors on the most disturbing elements. Together with more future treaties, the relationship between Islam and the West is expected significantly to improve.
Bibliography
Amstrong, Karen. Christian Holy City . n.d.
Armstrong, Karen. The City of David . n.d.
Huntington, Samwel. The Clash of Civilizations. St. Luise Washington university Center, 1993.
Histrical roots of Islam 600-1200 CE n.d ppt
Peace of the Brave . n.d.
Islam and Western Perialism n.d. ppt
Ryan, Rita. A history of the Expedition to Jerusalem . Noxville: University of Venessa, 1095-1127.
