Exploring Cultural Identity
Huntington
Senocak
A Fond Kiss
Huntington
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Look at the copyright date.
Did Huntington correctly predict events?
What has already come to pass, and what
might still happen?
What is useful to take from the article?
Definition of Civilization
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“The highest cultural grouping of people
and the boradest level of cultural identity
people have short of that which
distinguishes humans from other species.”
Why do cultural conflicts occur?
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1. Differences between civilizations are
real and basic.
2. Globalization: the world is becoming
smaller.
Why do cultural conflicts occur?
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3. Process of modernization are
separating people from their long-standing
cultural identities.
4. Though the West is at the peak of its
power, Non-Westerners increasingly have
the desire, will, and resources to shape
the world in non-West ways.
Why do cultural conflicts occur?
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5. Cultural differences are harder to
resolve than political and economic ones.
6. Economic regionalism is increasing.
Culture and religion form the basis of
economic cooperation.
West versus Non-West
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Who is included?
Why is there conflict?
How can conflict be resolved?
Huntington’s West v. Non-West
Torn Countries
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What makes a “torn” country?
What needs to be in place for resolution?
Torn Countries
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A torn country is one where the population
is split among large numbers of people
who define themselves as belonging to
different civilizations.
Factors for Resolving Torn
Countries
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1. The political and economic elite have to
support resolution.
2. The public has to be willing to be
redefined.
3. The dominant groups in the recipient
civilization have to be willing to embrace
the convert.
General factors that contribute
to conflict and inhibit resolution
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Religion
Economics
Geographic Boundaries
Does Huntington list others?
Zafer Senocak
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Born 1961 in Ankara, Turkey
Has lived in Germany since 1970
Leading voice in German discussions on
multiculturalism
Mediator between German and Turkish
Culture
European Union Expansion
“Orient” and “Occident”
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Define “Orient” and “Occident”
How does Senocak’s characterization of
this division compare with Huntington’s?
Who/What is the Other?
The Concept of Culture
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“When one speaks of ‘culture,’ one is
always speaking only of oneself.”
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“When one speaks of ‘cultural conflict,’ one
has reached the limits of one’s own
concept of culture.”
Senocak asks:
The concept of “multiculturalism” wants to
lend expression to the simultaneity of
diverse cultures. But does the meaning of
the word (culture) allow for a culture that is
not multicultural?
What do you think?
I want to know:
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Does the language we use, the words we
choose, affect the way we think?
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Huntington would say:
Senocak would say:
Watch the film this week for
language/word choices.
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A Fond Kiss
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Be sure to read the handout before
watching the film.
The study questions ask you to focus on
particular aspects of the film as you watch.
Most of the films are on reserve in the
library. This one is not.