Charles Explorer logo
🇬🇧

The Formation of Modern Nations Through the Lens of Relevant Perspectives

Publication at Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Arts |
2017

Abstract

Through the comparative perspective major components of intellectual contribution of Barrington Moore and Max are presented; both of them have made unique contribution to explanation of formation of modern nations under the capitalist condition resulting from interdependence between culture, industrialization and transformation of social structure. The comparative perspective has been justified by long-term view of various representatives of scientific community MINUS SIGN for example Theda Skocpol, Gale Stokes and Charles Tilly - that both of them have more or less successfully combined historical as well as sociological approaches concerning explanation of transition to modernity.

Firstly Moore's and Weber's reasoning about emergence of modern capitalism is clarified; while Barrington Moore ascribes crucial importance to social differentiation and configuration of social classes for emergence of democratic and non-democratic versions of capitalism in the most significant national systems, Weber stresses the role of religion MINUS SIGN particularly of moral imperative of various Protestant sects - for emergence of North American form of capitalism. Secondly differences between these two authors concerning constitution of concepts are presented; while Barrington Moore without explanation employed general notions such as democracy, dictatorship, revolution and social class, Weber's methodology asserted importance of cultural phenomena and subjective meaning of values implying constitution and employment of ideal types.

Thirdly key components of intellectual contribution of Barrington Moore and Max Weber for explanation of capitalism and methodology of social sciences are highlighted (including contribution of Gale Stokes as regards limited explanatory force of Moore's model for small Central and East European nations); on the basis of the comparative analysis Weber's methodology is more positively assessed.