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In this YouTube video section, Edward Said critiques Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" theory, expressing concerns over the oversimplification of cultural complexities and potential for conflict. Said argues against both the idea of a unified culture and the clash of civilizations, instead advocating for coexistence with the preservation of differences. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the unique inscape of individuals and cultures and the need to live with differences rather than promoting conflict or domination. Said also highlights the responsibility of American intellectuals to address the interventionary power of the United States and its impact on the world. The video also touches upon the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, with criticism towards the United States for providing Israel with significant aid while punishing Palestinians and the lack of effective leadership among Palestinians. Said calls for clarifying the goals of the struggle and recognizing the interconnectedness of Israeli and Palestinian identities. Additionally, he critiques Israel's lack of acknowledgement and responsibility for the displacement and suffering of the Palestinian people, built on the ruins of their society and resulting in the destruction of their economy and forced displacement.

• 00:00:00 In this section of the YouTube video, the speaker discusses Samuel Huntington's essay and book "The Clash of Civilizations." Huntington's essay, published in 1993 with a question mark, introduced the idea that world politics was entering a new phase, with conflicts arising from cultural differences between civilizations rather than ideological camps. The speaker argues that the essay is more effective than the expanded book, published without a question mark, and focuses on Huntington's discussions of potential conflicts between Western and Islamic and Confucian civilizations. The speaker notes that Huntington's work gained significant attention due to its timing following the end of the Cold War and the emergence of various theories on the new world order. However, the speaker criticizes Huntington for recycling the ideological conflict thesis from the Cold War era.
• 00:05:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "EDWARD SAID: THE MYTH OF THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS," the speaker critiques Samuel Huntington's essay and book, "The Clash of Civilizations." Huntington argues that the end of the Cold War marks the beginning of a new phase of conflict between the West and other civilizations, such as Islam and Confucianism. He suggests that the West must exploit differences and conflicts among these civilizations to maintain its strength and dominance. The speaker argues that Huntington's work is misleading and relies heavily on tendentious publicists and second-hand opinions rather than serious scholarship or theory. The speaker also criticizes Huntington for using the term "clash of civilizations," which is not his own, but rather borrowed from Bernard Lewis. The speaker suggests that Huntington's focus on conflict and division is not conducive to true understanding and cooperation between peoples, which is necessary for our planet.
• 00:10:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "EDWARD SAID: THE MYTH OF THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS," the speaker critiques the works of Samuel Huntington and Bernard Lewis, who have characterized Islamic civilization as monolithic and hostile to Western modernity. The speaker argues that both authors make sweeping generalizations about a billion Muslims, assuming they are all enraged against the West and that Islamic civilization is defined by its supposed anti-Westernism. The speaker stresses that Huntington and Lewis are polemicists, not neutral observers, and their works perpetuate the idea of a clash between civilizations rather than resolving it. The speaker questions the wisdom of simplifying the world into a clash of civilizations and handing it to policy makers as a prescription for understanding and acting in the world. The speaker warns that this approach may prolong and deepen conflict, mobilize nationalist passions, and lead to murderousness. Instead, the speaker suggests asking why one is doing this and focusing on mitigating the likelihood of conflict. The speaker also criticizes the use of vague and manipulable abstractions like "the West" or "Islam" that collapse particular religions, races, and ethnicities into ideologies.
• 00:15:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "EDWARD SAID: THE MYTH OF THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS," Edward Said discusses how the language of group identity emerged as a justification for imperialism during the late 19th century. European and American powers, such as France, Britain, Germany, Belgium, and the United States, resorted to theories and rhetorics to justify their plunder of Africa and Asia. One such notion was the civilizing mission, which gave more powerful countries the right to colonize others under the guise of a noble ideal. This period of imperial competition led to the development of theories of cultural destiny and the concept of worlds at war, which were based on the clash or conflict between civilizations. In response, the colonized peoples began to resist their forcible manipulation and settlement, leading to the organization of political and cultural movements determined to achieve independence and self-determination. This rhetoric of belonging was also at the heart of each independent movement's nationalism, which achieved the result of dismantling classical empires and winning independence for dozens of countries shortly after World War II.
• 00:20:00 In this section of the video, Edward Said discusses the emergence of various civilizations onto the world stage and the resulting rhetoric of cultural specificity. He identifies two potential directions for this discourse: one utopian, emphasizing integration and harmony between all peoples, and the other suggesting that all cultures are so specific and jealous as to reject and war against each other. Said uses the examples of the United Nations and various attempts at World Government as instances of the utopian line, while the theory and practice of the Cold War and the Clash of Civilizations theory represent the second direction. He also mentions the resurgence of movements stressing the innate opposition between Islam and the West, as well as the importance of defining one's culture and the ongoing contest over its definition. Said argues that the period we are living in is not the Clash of Civilizations but the Clash of Definitions, and that each culture defines its enemies and what stands beyond it. He also acknowledges the existence of countercultures and dissenting voices that challenge the official culture and its definitions.
• 00:25:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "EDWARD SAID: THE MYTH OF THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS," Edward Said discusses the importance of recognizing the internal debates and diversity within cultures, using the examples of America and Islam. He argues that Huntington's theory of the Clash of Civilizations oversimplifies the complexities of cultural identity and ignores the ongoing exchange and dialogue between different cultures. Said emphasizes the need to focus on cooperation and humanistic exchange rather than emphasizing differences and potential conflicts. He also highlights the long-standing relationships and influences between various literatures and cultures throughout history.
• 00:30:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "EDWARD SAID: THE MYTH OF THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS," Edward Said argues against the notion of stable and fixed civilizations, as put forth in Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" thesis. Said asserts that cultures and civilizations are not stable entities but rather abstractions that can be manipulated and invented. He criticizes the way Islam is portrayed in the Western discourse as a monolithic and volatile entity, when in reality, it varies greatly from place to place. Said also points out the damaging effects of trying to separate civilizations and the importance of recognizing their complexity and hybridity. He concludes by urging a more integrative approach to understanding civilizations and the dangers we face in the global context.
• 00:35:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "EDWARD SAID: THE MYTH OF THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS," Edward Said discusses the dangers facing the human race, including the polarization of populations, the decline of literacy, and the emergence of virulent local, national, ethnic, and religious sentiment. He argues that the sense of community, understanding, sympathy, and hope is the antidote to the clash of civilizations, as described by Samuel Huntington. Said emphasizes the importance of recognizing commonalities between cultures and denationalizing education to promote a better understanding of the complex and mixed world we live in. He critiques the monotheistic position that suggests one's culture or civilization is the center of the world and aims to eliminate the wasteful and hopeless conflicts that arise from such thinking.
• 00:40:00 In this section of the video, Edward Said critiques Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" theory, expressing concerns over the homogenization of cultures and the potential for conflict. Said argues against both the idea of a unified culture and the clash of civilizations, instead advocating for coexistence with the preservation of differences. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the unique inscape of individuals and cultures, and the need to live with differences rather than promoting conflict or domination. Said also highlights the responsibility of American intellectuals to address the interventionary power of the United States and its impact on the world. The situation of the Palestinians is also addressed, with concerns over the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the support of the United States.
• 00:45:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "EDWARD SAID: THE MYTH OF THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS | FREE FILMS FOR CONTEXT ON ISRAEL'S WAR ON GAZA," the speaker expresses concern over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, specifically focusing on the economic and political struggles faced by Palestinians. The speaker criticizes the United States for providing Israel with billions of dollars in aid while punishing Palestinians for not fighting terrorism enough. He laments the lack of effective leadership among Palestinians and the shrinking horizon of their struggle for liberation. The speaker emphasizes the importance of clarifying the goals of the struggle and the role of the United States in bringing about peace and justice for both peoples. He calls on Jews and Americans to recognize the crisis of conscience and the interconnectedness of the Israeli and Palestinian identities.
• 00:50:00 In this section of the video, Edward Said critiques the lack of acknowledgement and responsibility taken by Israel for the displacement and suffering of the Palestinian people. He points out that Israel was built on the ruins of Palestinian society and that the occupation has resulted in the destruction of their economy and forced displacement of capable people. Said argues that Israel cannot continue to victimize the Palestinians while ignoring its own role in their suffering, even as Jewish people have historically been victims themselves. The Accord, as mentioned, specifically states that Israel bears no responsibility for the costs of the occupation, a position Said finds unacceptable.
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