Clash of Civilizations? Edward Said's Response
extra student (rdm9298@jeeves.la.utexas.edu)
Mon, 25 Sep 1995 11:32:31 -0500
Edward Said's primary focus in "Culture and Imperialism" was the
effect that imperialism has had on the the culture of all nations involved.
He feels that imperialism has had as much effect on the West as it has had
on the countries controlled by the West. Thus, he sees throughout history
an intertwined set of relationships between all nations which is impossible
to ignore. Huntington seems to ignore these relationships and sees
civilizations as starkly separated from each. In his world, civilizations
may effect each other externally, but internally they are whole,
impenetrable and unchanging. Said may not disagree with the premise that
post cold war conflicts will occur between civilisations, but he will find
fault with Huntington's simplification of the relationships between
cultures. In Edward Said's world, people, information, literature, music,
and many other aspects of culture travel from nation to nation, across
civilisational boundaries, and change internally the civilisations they
enter. Although our own nation's government and political concepts are
Western, our music, art, and literature are deeply influnced by other
cultures. And whether Huntington believes it or not, art is as important
in defining culture as goverment and religion.
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