Samuel P. Huntington argued that in the post-Cold War era, conflicts would primarily arise not from ideological or economic differences, but from cultural and religious identities. First introduced in 1992, the thesis was elaborated in his 1993 article in Foreign Affairs and fully developed in his 1996 book The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. Huntington divided the world into major civilizations, such as Western, Islamic, Hindu, and Confucian, and contended that the cultural fault lines between these groups would become the main sources of global conflict. He also predicted a backlash from non-Western societies against Western dominance. The theory has significantly influenced debates on international relations, terrorism, and cultural identity-driven conflicts. However, critics argue that it is overly reductionist and neglects the potential for intercultural cooperation.

• The Populism Research Network. (n.d.). Clash of civilizations & civilizationist populism. Populism Studies. https://www.populismstudies.org/Vocabulary/clash-of-civilizations-civilizationist-populism/
• Fiveable. (n.d.). Clash of civilizations – Introduction to international relations. Fiveable Library. https://library.fiveable.me/key-terms/introduction-international-relations/clash-of-civilizations