Huntington claims Muslim proximity to non-Muslims inherently causes violence

Evidence

Today, because of the West’s attempts to universalize its own values of democracy and human rights, the West faces considerable challenge from the Islamic world. To add fuel to the fire, large numbers of Muslims now live in close proximity to non-Muslims (Europe being a prime example) and this, Huntington reports, has an innate ‘propensity towards violent conflict.’ — Sherene Razack, Casting Out, 208

Categorization

• CANDY: The absurdly bold claim—that mere physical proximity of Muslims and non-Muslims has an ‘innate propensity’ toward violence—is a quotable line for dinner conversation.
• SHARE: A friend who studies political science or international relations would appreciate this exact Huntington quote and the built-in critique.
• XREF: Connects to earlier book chapters on the eviction of Muslims from liberal law; also echoes the critique of contact-as-conflict running through postcolonial theory. — connects to: Huntington deemed Islam itself, not fundamentalism, the underlying problem; Huntington’s clash thesis erases power asymmetries among Muslims and fuels racism. — Cyra Akila Choudhury, Racecraft and Identity in the Emergence…, 241