DISCUSSION OUTLINES
International Relations since WWII: understanding the world system
Russia: our enemy, our ally
Cold War begins
'simple' bi-polar world
early 1990s, uni-polar world and the 'end of history' paradigm
not the first time a 'universal' ideal from the West emerged:
-4th Century BC: Aristotle defines the West vs. the Rest (occident vs. orient)
and Alexander brings Greek order to Asia (cosmos vs. chaos)
-4th Century: Christianity made universal state religion of Rome
-18th Century: Enlightenment project: 'civilized vs. uncivilized'
the 'moment': russia falls, europe unites, america 'wins'
later 1990s, multi-polar world and the 'clash of civilizations'
religion important in 'the clash'
new 'fault lines' open up:
West/Orthodox, West/Islam, West/Sinic, Orthodox/Sinic, Orthodox/Islam,
Islam/Hindu, Islam/Sinic, Islam/African, Sinic-Japanese.
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