“Regarding Clash of Civilizations, Huntington makes some serious errors.
1) Japan is not a Sinic nation. It is its own civilization. Its only companion would be Korea, but Japans previous occupation of this motherland precludes this. As a periphery civ, it chooses to align itself with the US for historic reasons, not the least of which is fear of China.
2) Orthodox Civilization is not a rival to the West anymore. In 50 to 100 years, Russia will be Muslim. Its former colonies will join Europe.
Whethor or not Japan is sino or not Mr H goes to great lengths to say that it is its own civilization. In the book, he explains why its in Japan’s best interests to align with China. I think all things being equal economicly, and they are getting equaller and equaller every day, Japan sees the China market as more and more appealing. Culturally it would be easy for them to side as a minor partner.
Europe will become muslim before Russia does. The orthodox church has a longer history of fighting the muslims than any of the other christian churches does. Anyone can project out 50 or 100 years but of the major christian religions, catholicism, protestantism, and orthodox, I see the orthodox putting up the best fight. 50 to 100 years? Its equally likely that Russia will invade the MidEast in the next 50 years with the US sitting on the sidelines routing for Russia.
China's economy is in worse shape than ours and their GNP/capita is too small for them to purchase much of what Japan makes. Trade with Japan is based largely on use of Chinese cheap labor.
Europe will become muslim before Russia does. The orthodox church has a longer history of fighting the muslims than any of the other christian churches does.
Losing, anyway. (I am not unbiased here. My ancestors fought the Muslims from 640-737 in 3 wars, when we controlled southern Russia.)
Anyone can project out 50 or 100 years but of the major christian religions, catholicism, protestantism, and orthodox, I see the orthodox putting up the best fight. 50 to 100 years? Its equally likely that Russia will invade the MidEast in the next 50 years with the US sitting on the sidelines routing for Russia.
Russia is well on its way to Dhimmitude.
A Caliphate "from the Red Sea to the Caspian"?
That was the past. What does the future hold? Last August witnessed a bizarre and little-reported meeting between two religious leaders: Russian Orthodox bishop teamed up with Russia’s Supreme Mufti to call for “a united Islamic-Orthodox Jihad against the Empire of Satan” (i.e., The United States.) For now, the meeting seems to have been a one-off event that has generated little enthusiasm amongst either Muslims or Russian Orthodox Christians. However, given the instability, corruption and conflict at the heart of Russian society, and Vladimir Putin’s unshakable lust for power, it isn’t wise to rule out the strangest of alliances as the latest chapter of Russian history begins.Say what you will about the first Czar of Russia, but Ivan IV understood the issue better than the KGB Aparatchik running Russia.