Author: Thomas Meyer
Publisher: Mosaic Books
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 128
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8185399611
Description
This book analyses the social, economic and political factors that contribute to the success of the fundamentalist clash-of-civilizations ideology.
The end of the struggle between the world’s major ideologies will be followed by a merciless clash of civilizations: this dangerous thesis is yet another example of the instrumentalization of religion and culture for political ends.
Thomas Meyer analyses the social, economic and political factors that contribute to the success of the fundamentalist clash-of-civilizations ideology. Fundamental values shared by cultures and religions as well as the differences that set them apart are brought home by empirical findings. Meyer’s conclusion: it is not cultural differences per se that determine whether we are enriched or alienated by them, but rather, what we wish to make of these differences. Understanding, he avers, can be achieved everywhere.
“It is really a crusading book aimed at universal goodwill and understanding, co-existence (peacefully) both internationally and internationally—especially important for countries like India, with all its pluralities.”
“The work concerns itself with fundamentalism (religious and non-religious) the world over and its exploitation for political, partisan and jingoistic purposes. Its analyses and classifications have practical aims and seek to show how it is possible and even practical for strongly contrasted systems of belief to co-exist. Something on the lines of the Indian Many paths, one goal approach.”
Contents
Editor’s Note
Fundamentalism: Failed Modernity and the West A Foreword by Hartmut Elsenhans
Spotlight
CHAPTER 1
The Birth of an Ideology
An Indiagnant Look at a New Experience
The Politics of Cultural Identity
Identity: Necessity and Mania
Fundamentalism: The Modern Identity Mania
CHAPTER 2
Attempts at Clarification
Civilization, Civilizational Style and Culture
CHAPTER 3
Unexpected Strains of Fundamentalism in Europe
The Right-Wing Mania for Identity: Ethnopluralism
The Left-Wing Identity Mania: Community as Society
The Post-Modern Identity Mania --- Psychosects
The Identity Mania Engendered by Exclusion: Young Turks in Germany
CHAPTER 4
Unwanted Interactions: Global Scenarios for Culture and Politics
The Clash of Civilizations
Insulation through Globalization
Opening-up through Identity
The Clash Within Civilization
CHPATER 5
The Language of Empirical Investigation: Facts and Research Results
Basic Social Values in Cultures
Post-materialism in Cultures
Socio-Cultural Milieus in Cultures
Understanding between Cultures
CHAPTER 6
Prospects for the Global Community Theories on fundamentalism
CHAPTER 7
Transculturality: A Contemporary Concept of Culture
The Case of Islam
Cultural Linkage
Refuge and False Enticement
CHAPTER 8
Opportunities in Risk
Appendix I: A Comparison of fundamental Values on the Basic of Hofstede’s Data
Appendix II: Post-Materialism in 40 Countries on the Basic of Gross National Product
Appendix III: Socio-Cultural Milieus in Europe
Select Bibliography
About the Series Editors and Advisors