Samuel Huntington was an American political scientist, best known for his work on political order and civil-military relations. He gained prominence with his book, "The Clash of Civilizations," published in 1996, where he argued that future conflicts would be driven by cultural and religious differences rather than ideological ones. Huntington also contributed to the study of democracy and modernization, particularly through his earlier work, "The Third Wave," which analyzed the global spread of democracy in the late 20th century. His ideas have influenced debates in international relations and political theory, making him a significant figure in contemporary political thought.