The Huntington book identifies illegal immigration and “multi-culturalism” as potential problems for America. It argues that the values we consider universal–free speech, free elections, limited government, respect for property rights, and the like–do not apply in most civilizations. Above all, it foresees that China will attempt to dominate its Sinic sphere of influence, at a minimum. It all sounds a bit like Trump. Was Huntington a Trump voter?
Not so fast! Trump deviated from the playbook in a number of critical ways. First of all, like Bannon, he viewed Russia as being part of a Christian sphere rather than the center of a separate Orthodox sphere. Second, he tried to divide the West rather than unite it. Third, Trump has a strong mercantilist bent that doesn’t appear anywhere in the book. Finally, and most importantly, Trump doesn’t simply argue that American values aren’t universal; he rejects them in America, as well. Where Huntington saw those values as the glue that keeps the West together, Trump sees only himself.