# #23 Pt. 1 - Islam, China, and the West: Clash, Convergence, or Coexistence?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/diplomacy-and-discourse-podcast-6570019/23-pt-1-islam-china-and-the-west-clash-convergence-or-coexistence
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/diplomacy-and-discourse-podcast-6570019/23-pt-1-islam-china-and-the-west-clash-convergence-or-coexistence.md
Podcast: [Diplomacy and Discourse Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/diplomacy-and-discourse-podcast-6570019)
Published: 2025-10-15T08:59:22+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/diplomacy-and-discourse-podcast/2272517
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/223496/2272517/diplomacy-and-discourse-podcast/2025_10_15_08_58_50_5b2332bc-c07a-4fff-91d3-0b5da802d4ba.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1753

## Resource

In Part 1 of this two to three-part series, host A.R. unpacks Samuel P. Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations and tests it against the world we actually live in. What we cover: The theory: Huntington’s civilizational blocs and “fault lines” The critique: simplifications, identity flattening, and “us vs. them” Real-world flashpoints: U.S.–China rivalry, Russia’s war in Ukraine, Gaza (2023–25), Taliban rule in Afghanistan, EU migration politics Paradoxes of power: U.S.–Saudi alignment, China brokering a Saudi–Iran détente, BRICS expansion Globalization’s countercurrent: interdependence, soft power, and transnational networks Alternative lenses: Francis Fukuyama: liberal convergence (End of History) Edward Said: critique of civilizational framing (Orientalism) Amartya Sen: overlapping identities (Identity and Violence) John Mearsheimer: realism and power over culture Joseph Nye: soft power, networks, and attraction 2025 outlook: slower U.S. growth, multipolar competition, and where civilizational narratives help—or mislead Key takeaways: Identity matters, but power politics, resources, and institutions matter too. “Clash” narratives can become political tools. The future looks less like a single civilizational conflict and more like a messy, multipolar contest with moments of cooperation.

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## Transcript

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