Book excerpt: In 1993, Samuel P. Huntington boldly asserted in the pages of Foreign Affairs that world politics was entering a new phase, one in which cultural differences in religion, history, language, and tradition were replacing Cold War tensions and would soon become the world's fundamental points of conflict. Huntington's striking thesis elicited both criticism and praise from the media and political experts around the world. More than a decade later, "The Clash of Civilizations?" continues to be a touchstone in global politics as writers passionately debate its merits and propose counter theories of their own. This collection presents Samuel Huntington's original, seminal essay followed by critical responses published in Foreign Affairs, including the author's reply to his critics and contemporary additions to the enduring question of how to understand world conflict. In this second edition, fresh contributions make The Clash of Civilizations?: The Debate newly relevant to students of International Relations and Political Science.