Tensions Between Islamic and Western Civilizations: Religion and its Impact on Politics

Oxana Dzyadyk

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The current thesis analyzes the concept of civilizational clash, operating the theoretical framework developed by Samuel Huntington, on the example of Islamic and Western civilizations. Furthermore, the clash is aimed to be explained in the realm of religion, which is claimed to be the main "fault line" in the cultural conflict. Here follows the main hypothesis of the current work: does religion act as the biggest "fault line" between the concerned civilizations, the main indicator of "us" and "them"? The aim is pursuit in several steps. In the first chapter the theoretical approach is developed, incorporating numerous civilization researchers, but is based predominantly on the works of Arnold Toynbee and Samuel Huntington. Apart from this, the concept of identity is introduced, being one of the crucial categories of the analysis, supplemented with the constructivist theory of international relations. The second chapter is dedicated to the analysis of both civilizations development, focusing on the role of religion in this process. The third chapter concentrates on deriving the "fault lines" between the Islamic and Western civilizations, resting upon the overview done in the previous chapter, the main differences forming the relationship model of "us" and "them". This final step allows to come up with final conclusions and reaching the answer for the hypothesis. The current paper has a traditional for such works structure, consisting of introduction, three chapters, one of which is theoretical, while the two others are concentrated on empirical analysis of the issue, finalized by the conclusion. The chapters of the main body enclose several subchapters to rationalize the structure and make the orientation for the reader easier.

Abstract:

The current thesis analyzes the concept of civilizational clash, operating the theoretical framework developed by Samuel Huntington, on the example of Islamic and Western civilizations. Furthermore, the clash is aimed to be explained in the realm of religion, which is claimed to be the main "fault line" in the cultural conflict. Here follows the main hypothesis of the current work: does religion act as the biggest "fault line" between the concerned civilizations, the main indicator of "us" and "them"? The aim is pursuit in several steps. In the first chapter the theoretical approach is developed, incorporating numerous civilization researchers, but is based predominantly on the works of Arnold Toynbee and Samuel Huntington. Apart from this, the concept of identity is introduced, being one of the crucial categories of the analysis, supplemented with the constructivist theory of international relations. The second chapter is dedicated to the analysis of both civilizations development, focusing on the role of religion in this process. The third chapter concentrates on deriving the "fault lines" between the Islamic and Western civilizations, resting upon the overview done in the previous chapter, the main differences forming the relationship model of "us" and "them". This final step allows to come up with final conclusions and reaching the answer for the hypothesis. The current paper has a traditional for such works structure, consisting of introduction, three chapters, one of which is theoretical, while the two others are concentrated on empirical analysis of the issue, finalized by the conclusion. The chapters of the main body enclose several subchapters to rationalize the structure and make the orientation for the reader easier.

Keywords

religion, international relations, clash of civilizations

Keywords

religion, clash of civilizations, international relations

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 29. 8. 2012

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 21. 1. 2014
• Supervisor: Zuzana Lehmannová
• Reader: Yvona Novotná

Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze

Master programme / field:
Mezinárodní ekonomické vztahy / International and Diplomatic Studies