Religion, Social Change and Conflict
- Religion doesn’t always act as a conservative force but can also be a force for social change
Name: WEBER
Concept: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
- WEBER attempted to show that the evolution of new religious ideas can stimulate social
and economic change as people act in terms of their belief
- Through cross-cultural analysis of the links between religion and social change in a number
of societies, WEBER sought to explain why capitalist industrialisation developed first in
Western Europe rather than in other parts of the world
- WEBER believed that religion can influence how the economy is organised.
- Weber studied the rise of Calvinism in Europe.
- Calvinism is a form of ascetic Protestantism characterised by austerity and self-denial.
- WEBER’s study showed that Calvinist religious beliefs had an important influence on the
development of an industrial capitalist economy and the emergence of a capitalist class.
- The protestant ethic valued the pursuit of wealth and profit and WEBER argued that this
was a major reason as to why capitalist industrialisation developed firstly in Western
Europe.
- WEBER concluded that Calvinism, of all religions, provided the rationality and religious
ideology which encouraged the development of capitalist industrialisation in the
Protestant countries of Europe.
- CA: However, the Protestant ethic was not the sole reason for the development of capitalist
industrialisation in Europe.
Criticisms of Weber
- KAUTSKY argues that Weber overestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economic
factors in bringing capitalism into being
- R.H TAWNEY argues that technological change caused the birth of capitalism
- WEBER has also been criticised as capitalism did not develop in every country where there
were Calvinists- e.g. Scotland-large capitalist population but slow to develop capitalism
Religious Fundamentalism
- Fundamentalism: Literal interpretation of the holy texts
- It involves a strong opposition to secularisation and modernisation and a defence of
traditional beliefs and moral rules.
- Fundamentalism can be a force that both aids and inhibits social change.
- Example: 1979 Iranian Revolution.
- In Iran, Islam produced revolutionary change, with a revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini.
- This deposed the Shah of Iran, led to the establishment of the Islamic state, based on Sharia
law.
- GIDDENS would see this as an example of ‘Cosmopolitanism versus Fundamentalism.’
- While Fundamentalists seek to return to traditional values and morals, Cosmopolitanism is a
way of thinking that embraces modernity and globalisation and is open to new ideas or
ways of thinking.
- The Iranian Revolution is an example of Fundamentalism triumphing over
Cosmopolitanism.
- Religion doesn’t always act as a conservative force but can also be a force for social change
Name: WEBER
Concept: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
- WEBER attempted to show that the evolution of new religious ideas can stimulate social
and economic change as people act in terms of their belief
- Through cross-cultural analysis of the links between religion and social change in a number
of societies, WEBER sought to explain why capitalist industrialisation developed first in
Western Europe rather than in other parts of the world
- WEBER believed that religion can influence how the economy is organised.
- Weber studied the rise of Calvinism in Europe.
- Calvinism is a form of ascetic Protestantism characterised by austerity and self-denial.
- WEBER’s study showed that Calvinist religious beliefs had an important influence on the
development of an industrial capitalist economy and the emergence of a capitalist class.
- The protestant ethic valued the pursuit of wealth and profit and WEBER argued that this
was a major reason as to why capitalist industrialisation developed firstly in Western
Europe.
- WEBER concluded that Calvinism, of all religions, provided the rationality and religious
ideology which encouraged the development of capitalist industrialisation in the
Protestant countries of Europe.
- CA: However, the Protestant ethic was not the sole reason for the development of capitalist
industrialisation in Europe.
Criticisms of Weber
- KAUTSKY argues that Weber overestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economic
factors in bringing capitalism into being
- R.H TAWNEY argues that technological change caused the birth of capitalism
- WEBER has also been criticised as capitalism did not develop in every country where there
were Calvinists- e.g. Scotland-large capitalist population but slow to develop capitalism
Religious Fundamentalism
- Fundamentalism: Literal interpretation of the holy texts
- It involves a strong opposition to secularisation and modernisation and a defence of
traditional beliefs and moral rules.
- Fundamentalism can be a force that both aids and inhibits social change.
- Example: 1979 Iranian Revolution.
- In Iran, Islam produced revolutionary change, with a revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini.
- This deposed the Shah of Iran, led to the establishment of the Islamic state, based on Sharia
law.
- GIDDENS would see this as an example of ‘Cosmopolitanism versus Fundamentalism.’
- While Fundamentalists seek to return to traditional values and morals, Cosmopolitanism is a
way of thinking that embraces modernity and globalisation and is open to new ideas or
ways of thinking.
- The Iranian Revolution is an example of Fundamentalism triumphing over
Cosmopolitanism.
