Western Political Thought and the State in the "Other": A Critical Reading of the Clash of Civilizations Thesis in Light of 16th goal of SDGs 2030

  This study aimed to analyze contemporary Western political thought regarding the construction of the nation-state in non-western societies، focusing on the "Clash of Civilizations" thesis. It traces the intellectual roots of this thesis in the works of Arnold Toynbee and Bernard Lewis، and in the Arab context through Mahdi Elmandjra، culminating in Samuel Huntington، whose ideas remain the most influential and controversial in shaping American policies and strategies toward the "Other." The study also explores the implications of these conceptions for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)، particularly the 16th goal، which addresses peace، justice، and strong institutions.

The research adopting content analysis and a descriptive-analytical approach، and finds that these theses are largely ideological more than scientific، serving American interests rather than scientific inquiry. They contributed to weakening nation-states، fueling internal conflicts، and eroding identities in non-Western societies. The findings highlight how Western political thought continues to shape global strategies toward the "Other،" creating significant obstacles to progress on Sustainable Development issues generally and on the 16th goal particularly.

The scientific contribution of this study lies in linking the tenets of Western political thought to issues of sustainable development and underscores the need for further critical research to expose the ideological dimensions of Western thought and its policy impact. It calls for reconsidering global development programs and advancing alternative theoretical frameworks and practical approaches rooted in the cultural، social، and religious specificities of non-Western societies، while drawing on successful Asian and African experiences