Western civilization for the world?<\/p>\n
By Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Samuel Huntington, author of the controversial
\nClash of Civilizations article, has written another interesting
\narticle in the November\/December 1996 issue of Foreign Affairs
\nmagazine.<\/p>\n
In it, he asserts that the process of economic modernization
\ncan only be successful for those nations basing changes on the
\nindigenous culture. Huntington argues that it is an illusion to
\npromote Western culture as something to be accepted as universal
\nvalues.<\/p>\n
Some technical expertise can be borrowed to improve the
\nprocess of modernization. However, what must take place is not
\nwesternization, but modernization.<\/p>\n
Peter the Great and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk were convinced that
\nto modernize their countries they should adopt Western culture,
\neven replacing traditional headgear with its Western equivalent.
\nBut what they created were, in Huntington's words, "torn
\ncountries", unsure of their cultural identity.<\/p>\n
The economic success of Japan seems to prove Huntington's
\ncase. Based on their slogan of "Japanese spirit, Western
\ntechnique", modernization became a process that took the whole
\nnation to a different platform of life and progress.<\/p>\n
Huntington does not believe that societies with modern
\ncultures should be any more alike than are societies with
\ntraditional cultures. There is no homogeneous and universal
\nmodernity like there was no universal traditionalism. On the
\ncontrary, Huntington thinks that modernity in a nation produces a
\nstrengthening of indigenous cultures.<\/p>\n
Modernization enhances the economic wealth and military power
\nof a country as a whole. That encourages people to have
\nconfidence in their heritage and to become culturally assertive.<\/p>\n
The return to indigenous culture very often takes a religious
\nform and the global revival of religion is a direct consequence
\nof modernization, says Huntington. This also assumes an anti-
\nWestern cast, in some cases rejecting Western culture, because it
\nis Christian and subversive, or considered degenerate and
\nsecular. All of this has a deep impact on politics.<\/p>\n
The process of indigenization can also be observed through the
\nuse of language. English has been accepted as the number one
\nworld language. But according to the findings of Sidney S.
\nCulbert of the University of Washington, the use of English is
\ndeclining. In 1958 about 9.8 percent of all human beings spoke
\nEnglish as a first or second language. But in 1992 only 7.6
\npercent did.<\/p>\n
The use of the five major Western languages has also declined
\nfrom 24 percent in 1958 to 21 percent in 1992.<\/p>\n
Huntington's conclusion is therefore that the Western
\ncivilization is unique but not universal.<\/p>\n
All efforts to make other nations accept Western values as
\nuniversal and their own is an illusion. What the West should do
\nwith its relatively limited resources is to enhance the unity
\namong the West, so that the non-Western forces can not play one
\nWestern nation against the other.<\/p>\n
In Huntington's view, what includes the West are North and
\nLatin America and Europe (except those nations in Eastern Europe
\nhistorically close to the Orthodox Church and Islam). He does not
\nconsider Greece or Turkey Western. Russia is definitely not
\nWestern. He proposes that the West should take all actions to
\nimprove its power, politically, economically as well as
\nmilitarily. NATO must play an important role.<\/p>\n
Huntington does not mention the clash of civilizations in this
\narticle, but the suggestions he has made to strengthen the West
\n-- which spans from the Western Hemisphere to the Baltic
\nnations, Poland and Rumania -- is a clear indication of his
\ndistrust of the non-West.<\/p>\n
The writer, a former governor of the National Resilience
\nInstitute, is now an ambassador at large for the Non-Aligned
\nMovement.<\/p>",
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