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urqa and Niqab in public. France argues that the decision to ban the Burqa is because it oppresses Islamic women, whilst Muslims argue that it is their (religious) right to wear it and it is racist.

 

Is France’s decision to ban religious ‘paraphernalia’ an attempt to uphold secularism, or is it something more sinister? Whilst one could argue that France is historically secular, the argument that Muslim’s make is equally as justified. Muslim people have every right to question these bans as it does, in essence, appear racist and contradictory. For example, France still celebrates religion specific holidays such as Christmas and Easter (Western/Christian holidays).

 

A lack of knowledge, stereotypes, and perhaps the impact of this war has led to the perceived dislike, racism, and discrimination against (French) Muslims today. More importantly though, what is portrayed through the media (the depiction of Islam) heightens and reinforces fear and insecurities that already exist amongst Western society.

 

Like Malik, Huntington (1996) believed that cultural differences are the source of conflict between the West and Islam. Similarly, he (Huntington) discusses the effect of the Cold War on Islam.

 

Huntington’s ‘Clash of Civilisations’ proposes that the ‘next pattern of conflict’ will occur between cultures on the basis of culture, not ideologies or money. He believes that civilisations will clash because of differences (different cultural beliefs), the world is becoming ‘smaller’ (more and more non-Western civilisations are resisting modernisation), and social change is resulting in the separation of identity. Furthermore the West is at peak power, where no country can challenge them economically (except Japan), politically, or militarily.

 

Huntington believes that the West run the world in a way that best suits and benefits them: “maintain its military predominance and to advance its economic interests” (p. 6). This stance has evoked mixed reactions amongst different countries. Some have cut off all ties completely with the Western world in an attempt to run their country and pursue what is best for it. Others are band-wagoning (conforming to Western ways, ideas, and beliefs etc.) or ‘balancing’; forming alliances with other non-Western countries (militarily and economically) whilst preserving their own beliefs, traditions, religion, culture and identity.

 

By splitting the world into several civilisations: “Western, Confucian, Japanese, Islamic, Hindu, Slavic-Orthodox, Latin-American and possibly an African civilisation” (p.3), Huntington notes that Western conflict with Islam is far greater than any other civilisation. For example, conflict between the West (specifically the USA) and Orthodox & Latin-American civilisations is minimal because they are now willing to co-operate with the West. Whether it is because they simply cannot compete 本论文由英语论文网提供整理，提供论文代写，英语论文代写，代写论文，代写英语论文，代写留学生论文，代写英文论文，留学生论文代写相关核心关键词搜索。