[LS]

A huge problem with Huntington's thesis is that in fact the ONLY way to "civilize" is to adopt Western ideas and ways. There can be no such thing as "civilized" Japanese culture until became westernized---voting rights, property rights, women's equality (to an extent). Likewise, the Muslim states face just this: how do you have property rights without political rights? One normally leads to another, despite religious sanction.

[jimkress]

A huge problem with Huntington's thesis is that in fact the ONLY way to "civilize" is to adopt Western ideas and ways.

I disagree. The context of Huntington's thesis is that Western ideas = individual liberty (i.e. freedom from autocratic or theocratic tyranny). The only way to provide a truly civilized society is to enable and promote individual liberty. Any other societal approach is slavery, not civilization.