Post on The Clash of Civilizations?

Huntington claims that for the future the primary source of conflict will be cultural and between civilizations with these culture differences.  I agree that now since the major ideological battles have subsided, the problems between civilizations will come to the forefront.  But that is also my dilemma- haven't these differences always brought trouble?  There have been wars in the name of religion, territory, beliefs for ages.  I think possibly now, with the main ideological wars fought, people are starting to return to their cultural ties because they need something to believe in and fight for, and that's why conflict has arose.  Also, non-Western civilizations may be holding onto their cultural background while trying to absorb Western ideology so they don't succumb themselves to the evils that Westernization sometimes sports.  It still is an ideological conflict.  Also, it is interesting to look at the statement that the conflict in this new world won't be ideological or economic but cultural because wasn't it always based on culture?  Liberal democracy formed from people who were persecuted, wanted freedom and rights.  Fascism survived by the lost and broken down Germans who wanted global dominance and respect.  Cultural tendencies sprung the classic ideologies.  However, it is true that civilizations have been ramming heads.  His ideas on torn countries describes the confrontation between Russia and Georgia.  It's also as if the old idea of self-determinism is finally playing out as different civilizations form their own states.  The only other issue I had was by the second half of the essay 'the West' was thrown around so much that it was almost hard to distinguish whether or not it was supposed to be a civilization or an ideology unto itself.  All in all, I think civilizations do have a big presence in the future.  When he talked about kin-countries coming together it made me nervous because really it's all in the terminology.  Call a nuisance a reason for jihad and all the Islamic states will come to support it, and if states do start supporting common cultures only for that reason, since they have opposing political beliefs, I think that makes for a weary future.