The Clash of Ignorance In Krytyka, No. 11 (49), 2001, pp. 7-8.

The article is a translation of a text by Edward Said for Znet magazine. In his article, Said discusses Samuel Huntington’s concept of the «Clash of Civilizations», which has gained renewed interest among public intellectuals and the mainstream media since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. It is argued that Huntington offers an overly simplistic view of the dynamics of civilizational relations, focusing on the antagonistic struggle between the collective West and Islam. This reductionist approach, according to the author, does not reflect the diversity of historical relations between civilizations and cements in the public consciousness a prejudiced idea of the Islamic tradition by diminishing its cultural influence along with its aesthetic and intellectual aspects. Said sees the concept of the «Clash of Civilizations» as a tool for increasing moral panic rather than an effective way to navigate the modern world.