The Contest Between Civilizations

Traces Chomsky’s rejection of a simple West-versus-Islam framework through examples of cross-cutting alliances and violence.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Western Support for Suharto

Western Support for Suharto The United States supports Suharto after a military takeover in Indonesia accompanied by mass killings. A Muslim-Majority State The example disrupts the claim that Western and Muslim societies form opposing blocs. Selective Memory Chomsky notes how Western enthusiasm for the regime later gives way to historical silence.

Support for Militants

Support for Militants The United States and allies arm Islamist militants against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Strategic Alignment Religious identity does not prevent cooperation when the groups serve a powerful state’s immediate interests. A Challenge to the Binary This history complicates claims that Western policy consistently opposes Islamic fundamentalism.

The Central American Example

The Central American Example Chomsky describes American-backed violence in Central America as directed in part against a church supporting poor communities. An Unexpected Enemy The conflict crosses religious categories, with Catholic institutions opposing policies supported by Western powers. Power over Identity Political obedience, rather than civilization or faith, better explains many alliances and hostilities.

The Civilizational Claim

The Civilizational Claim Commentators describe the crisis as a clash between Western and Islamic civilizations. An Appealing Simplification The frame converts political conflicts into a contest between entire cultures. Chomsky’s Objection He considers the explanation historically shallow and politically convenient.

A False Universal Divide

A False Universal Divide Chomsky rejects a global conflict between Islam and the West as an account of the crisis. Mixed Histories States, religious movements, and communities have formed changing alliances across supposed civilizational boundaries. Better Questions The analysis should focus on power, policy, and violence rather than treating cultures as unified enemies.

From 1965 onward

During the 1980s

During the 1980s

September 2001

In the interviews of September and October 2001