ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to rescue the values of Western modernity would in the end sharpen the East–West divide by concentrating only on highlighting the contrasts of world civilizations. It emphasizes that although Western modernity is unique in some respect, it has neglected the contributions of other great civilizations of the world to the progress of humanity. The conflict over the connection between modernity, war, and violence cannot simply be resolved with reference to "historical facts". Especially after World War II and Stalinism, the connection between modernity and violence was given additional weight. Although Sigmund Freud and Norbert Elias had pointed out the "psychological dark side" of modernity much earlier, this was generally understood as a prerequisite for an ultimately successful civilizing process. Instead of proposing simple antitheses or equalization of modernity and violence, Norbert Elias developed a dialectical conception in which wars in modernity are the means for a comprehensive pacification and ultimately for the foundation of a world state.
