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AReviewofMax WebersThesisontheProtestantEthicandtheSpiritofCapitalism
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A Review of Max Webers Thesis on the
Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
Nahom Eyasu
T
(The Religious Foundations of Worldly Asceticism), and
his paper describes about the review of The
five (Asceticism and The Spirit of Capitalism) were from
Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism, which
the works of Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther, John
was written by Max Weber, translated by Talcott
2016
Calvin, and Richard Baxter respectively.
Parsons, and introduced by Anthony Giddens in 2005 in
So, this paper comprises the introduction part
Year
the publishing link of Routledge: London and New work.
(the main focusing area of the book), the main body part
Weber produced most of his major works in the
(the main idea of the thesis), and the last one is
late 1800s and early 1900s (Glatzer, 1998). Weber was
conclusion (re-state the basic issues), and references 49
identified more as a historian who was concerned with
have been involved.
sociological issues, but in the early 1900s his focus
-
to understand why a rational economic system economy, history, law, jurisprudence and linguistics. He
(capitalism) had developed in the West and why it had was written more than32 published sociology books
failed to develop in the rest of the world (Ritzer, 2011). (Burger, 1976).
Weber accorded a central role to religion in this process.
III. The Main Concerning Area of the
At one level, he was engaged in a dialogue with the
Marxists in an effort to show that, contrary to what many Thesis
Marxists of the day believed, religion was not merely an The main concerning area of Webers study was
epiphenomenon. Instead, it had played a key role in the to describe how the west developed a distinctively
rise of capitalism in the West and in its failure to develop rational religious system (Protestant) that played a key
elsewhere in the world (Ritzer, 2011). role in the rise of rational economic system (capitalism)
In general, the bench mark ideas of Max Weber
on The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism IV. Purpose Statement
were become from chapter one and two (Religious
Each and every micro and macro sociologists
Affiliation and Social Stratification, and The Spirit of
have their own intentions to discuss about how social
Author: Department of Sociology, College of Social Sciences and phenomena, social issues, in general social
Languages, Mekelle University. e-mail: tenseye@gmail.com environments have been occurred for the benefits of
individuals as well as society, organizations, institutions, VI. The Main Ideas of Weber on the
and structures ( Turner, 1999).
So, Max Webers intention for studying The
Protestant Ethic and the Sprit of
Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism was that Capitalism
Weber wanted to illustrate how the origin of a peculiar Max Weber, the most significant sociologist,
spirit that eventually made modern rational capitalism in was dictating about religion, capitalism and social
the Western Europe (Ritzer, 2011), to describe how the stratification during his popular period, 1903-1917 (
Protestant Ethic to societal domain and social carrier Giddens, 2005; Ritzer, 2011). The main works of Weber
and their relationships to one another leads to a concern were so many, but the reviewer has focused on the main
with social change (Kalbers, 1996), to explain the works of max Weber on his thesis:
general issues of why Protestant institutions in the
western world had grown progressively more rational a) Religious affiliation
while powerful barriers seemed to prevent a similar b) Luthers conception of calling
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development in the rest of the world (Brubaker, 1984), c) Ascentism and the spirits of capitalism, and
d) Calvinism
Year
Max Weber was one of the classical times provoked discussion in the catholic press and
sociologists, who studied about The Protestant Ethic catholic congress in Germany, namely, the fact that
and the Sprit of Capitalism, Economy and Society, The business leaders and owners of capitals, as well as the
Methodology of Social Sciences and on and on. So, the highest grades of skilled labour, and even more the
question is why Weber studied about sociology as a higher technology and commercially trained personnel
discipline? It has so many factors that Max Weber of modern enterprises are protestants.
Studied about sociology as a discipline, but the main More specifically, the greater participation of
reasons for being studied sociology by Weber were: protestant in the position of ownership and management
1) The German of Webers youth had rapidly in modern economic life may to- day be understood, in
industrialized, and this had left the country in a part at least, simply as a result of the greater material
chaotic state with several constituencies vying for wealth they have inherited. But, the smaller proportion of
prominence in the setting of national and political catholic among the skilled labourer of modern industry.
agendas: Prussian Junkers (militaristic land owners) The Catholics show a stronger propensity to remain in
from land owners, new industrialists, and their their crafts and gymnasium, where as the Protestants
recently proletalianized workers all represented are attracted to a larger extent in to the factories in order
faces contending for influence in shaping modern to fill the upper ranks of skilled labour and administrative
German. So, Weber wanted to keep Germans positions. So, religious affiliation is not a cause of the
national unity and cohesion, this is one of the economic conditions, but to a certain extent appears to
causes that Weber wanted to study sociology be a result of them.
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obligations. In contrast, labour in a calling appears to of capitalism, Weber developed a typology of the paths
him as the out world expression of brotherly love. He of salvation. Asceticism is the first broad type of
approves the observation that the division of labour religiosity, and it combines an orientation toward action
forces every individual to work for others. with the commitment of believers to denying themselves
He strongly emphasized that the statement that the pleasures of the world. Ascetic religions are divided
the fulfillment of worldly duties are under all into two subtypes. Otherworldly asceticism involves a
circumstances the only way to live acceptably to God. It set of norms and values that command the followers not
and it alone is the will of God, and hence, every to work within the secular world and to fight against its
legitimate calling has exactly the same worth in the sight temptations. Of greater interest to Weber, because it
of God. This moral justification of world actively was one encompasses Calvinism, was inner worldly asceticism.
of the most important results of the reformation. Such a religion does not reject the world; instead, it
Luther also believed that the puritan wanted to actively urges its members to work within the world so
work in a calling; we are forced to do so. For when that they can find salvation, or at least signs of it. The
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ascentism was carried out of the monastic cells in to distinctive goal here is the strict, methodological control
of the members patterns of life, thought, and action.
Year
everyday life and began to dominant worldly morality, it
did its part in building the tremendous cosmos of the Members are urged to reject everything unethical,
modern economic order, they are the means of esthetic, or dependent on their emotional reactions to
the secular world. Inner worldly ascetics are motivated 51
overcoming the inner resistance to capitalist work
to systematize their own conduct.
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d) Calvinism were among the saved. To reduce this uncertainty, the
According to Weber, a different ethical religious Calvinists developed that idea that signs could be used
orientation was necessary to provide the devotion of as indicators of whether a person was saved. People
daily work which the modern capitalist economic order were urged to work hard, because if they were diligent,
was just beginning to require in part of Europe in they would uncover the signs of salvation, which were to
overcoming the inner resistance to capitalist work be found in economic success. In sum, the Calvinist
habits. The prominent charismatic figures involved in was urged to engage in intense, worldly activity and to
this transition were Martin Luther and John Calvin. become a man of vocation.
Calvinism was the version of Protestantism that Calvinism, as an ethic, required self-control and
interested Weber most. One feature of Calvinism was a systematized style of life that involved an integrated
the idea that only a small number of people are chosen round of activities, particularly business activities. So,
for salvation. In addition, Calvinism entailed the idea of the study of Calvinism has strongly linked to the rise of
predestination; people were predestined to be either capitalism; it has three reasons why Calvinism has a
among the saved or among the damned. There was good links with the rise of capitalism: First, capitalists
nothing that the individual or the religion as a whole could restlessly pursue their economic interests and feel
could do to affect that fate. Yet the idea of that such pursuit was not merely self-interest but was, in
predestination left people uncertain about whether they fact, their ethical duty. Second, Calvinism provided the
rising capitalist with sober, conscientious and unusually So, there are the significant differences between
industrious workmen who clung to their work as to a life Martin Luther and John Calvin on their religious and the
purpose willed by God. Third, Calvinism legitimized an rise of capitalism studies, their differences is attempting
unequal stratification system by giving the capitalist the to put below here;
comforting assurances that the unequal distribution of
the goods of this world was a special dispensation of
Divine Providence.
Martin Luther John Calvin
It is necessary for the removal of special status for religious Worldly activities are the man of vocations
vocations
He had removed the negative connotations connected with He stipulating that it is absolutely necessary to devote ones
everyday work life to duty in ones earthly calling, duty to God
Creating the every habits required by modern capitalism Predestination indirectly required to modern capitalism
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units and their separate parts as components fully consequences of actions in different historical contexts,
integrated into a larger system of objective structures. Weber was able to give approximate meaningful
So, the reviewer has illustrated his methodology as definitions and analysis in what they are occurred
much as possible below: (Antonio, 1985).
a) Approximately Longitudinal Study Design Another aspect of Webers methodology was
Weber has used both cross sectional and his commitment to his study of causality. He was
longitudinal study design at the same time during his inclined to see the study of the causes of social
study. In longitudinal study, he studied the way that phenomena. He operates with a multi-causal approach
exploring Protestant doctrine was by prolong in which hosts of interactive influences are very often
observation in various ways in which Protestants effective causes.
seemed attracted to business-oriented occupations and Weber was quite clear on the issue multiple
organized their daily lives in an especially rigorous causalities in his study of the relationships between
fashion ( Giddens, 2005). Protestantism and the spirits of capitalism. Although he
In cross sectional study, he studied the reasons is sometimes interpreted ethic was one of the causal
why some Asian countries like China and India couldnt factors in the rise of modern sprit capitalism; Protestant
see the rise of capitalism were: the absence of Ethic was the independent variable of the spirits of
guarantee law and a rational administration and judiciary capitalism.
for china, and recruitment of labor, credit by the caste According to Weber, the causal (cause-effect
system for India one point in a time (Giddens, 2005; relationships) knowledge on social sciences is
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ideal type was that Ideal type is a conceptual tool which from the selection of some selective countries from
brings together certain relationships and events of Asian countries to the observations of their religious
historical life in to a complex which is conceived of as because Weber need to informant so as to ensure his
internally consistent system to be applied for investigation in the selection of a few cases with some
investigating theoretical investigations. peoples for intensive study (Giddens, 2005).
The most important thing about ideal type is
f) Data Collection Instruments
that they are heuristic devices; they are on the useful The author of the book has used both primary
and helpful in doing empirical research and in and secondary data that helping to collect and gather
understanding specific aspects of the social world.
appropriate data for his study
In Webers view, the ideal type was to be
derived inductively from the real world of social history. i. Primary data
Weber rejects the idea of theoretical laws; he does use In primary data, the researcher has collected
ideal type in various ways to create theoretical models. qualitative data from the selected continental countries.
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Thus, ideal type constitutes the theoretical Observation: This data collection instrument was the
Year
building blocks for the construction of a variety of authors qualitative data collection instrument in
theoretical model studying about how the structural barriers like few
Another method of his study was Verstehen. formals laws, the absence of central court and the
53
The German word for understanding is Verstehen. The irrational type of administrative structure were the
term Verstehen was derived from a field known as causes that hindering the rise of capitalism in China and
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Max Weber has covered China, India, Japan, ii. Comparison analysis
and Western Europe societies in investigating why the The author of this book also used comparative
rise of true capitalism has been occurred in western analysis so as to compare the historical comparisons of
countries, and why not occurred in China and India the rationalization of economic institutions: the
(Giddens, 2005) relationships between religious and economy on the
d) Target Population rooted ideas of the German Historical School and the
The target population of Webers Study was the Marxist School of Economics
society who were following in one religious, especially iii. Narrative analysis
for the follower of Catholic Church, Confucianism, The author of this book was also narrating the
Hinduism, Judaism, Calvinism, Pietism, Methodism, life of capitalists in Germany in order to distinguish
Baptist Sects, Lutheran, Puritan Sects, and which works were accomplished by the Protestants and
governments, judiciary bodies, capitalists, workers Catholics.
(Giddens , 2005).
VIII. Max Weber and Karl Marx
e) Sampling Techniques
Dialogue
Weber has mostly used non probable random sampling
techniques during his study. The writer of the book has The relationship between Marx and Weber has
applied purposive or judgmental non random sampling been the topic of considerable debate and research
(Antonio and Glassmars, 1965). There is no simple way production, but it is related to status and party
in which Weber was involved in a debate with the ghost affiliations (Weber, 1904 cited in Ritzer, 2011). He also
of Marx (Salomon, 1935). There is high debating stated that modern capitalism has begun to work of
between Marx on Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of increasing the productivity of human labor by increasing
Capitalism and Weber on the analysis of industrial its intensity, and none of the major spheres of society
capitalism, and Webers Economy and Society and (political, legal, economic, and religious are equally
Marxs Capital (Turner, 1993: 3), Marxs concepts of dominant in society (Giddens, 2005:24; Allen, 2004;
alienations and Webers concepts of rationalization Antonio and Glassmars, 1965; Salomon, 1935).
(Lowith, 1993). b) Marx and Weber Dialogue on Religion
Karl Marxs ideas on the points of the above Marx clearly says that he is not against religion
issues, especially capitalism and religion were debated per se, but against a system that requires the illusions of
to the ideas of Max Weber. Lets see one by one religion because capitalism is an independent variable
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a) Marx and Weber Dialogue on Capitalism of religion And, he famously refers to religion as the
Marx believed that the secret of capitalism is opiate of the people for sustaining the systems of
Year
that political powers have been transformed into capitalism because religion is the heart of a heartless
economic relations in the purpose of exploiting the world, just as it is the spirit of spiritless conditions. It is
54 workers. Marx developed an important insight on the also the opium of the people. (Marx, 1843 quoted in
capitalist economic system is the primary cause of Ritzer, 2011; Antonio and Glassmars, 1965).
Global Journal of Human Social Science (C ) Volume XVI Issue VI Version I
alienation. And, Marx understood capitalism in terms of But for Marx Weber, in analyzing the relationship
its underlying production forces that shape the systems between the worlds religions and the economy
of social relationships. So, Marx intends to reveal the especially for the rise of capitalism, Inner worldly
internal contradictions that he hopes will inevitable asceticism played its role on the rise of capitalism
transform capitalism (Antonio, 1985; Antonio and because capitalism is the dependent variable of religion,
Glassmars, 1965; Allen, 2004). and Weber also believed that military and religious,
But, Max Weber believed on capitalism is that political and juridical institutional systems are
the system of capitalism was occurred when the functionally related to the economic order in a variety of
individuals did their systematic work in a worldly calling, ways ( Gerth and Mills, 1958: 49; Allen, 2004).
not for the purpose of political power and the Generally, the dialogues between Max Weber
exploitation of workers, the location of power in society and Karl Marx on the above issues are listed below
is not exclusively related to ownership of means of
Karl Marx Max Weber
His study of capitalism was restricted by Western Weber includes Eastern societies, and drew on the
societies (primarily England) comparative study of the economic conditions of various
countries
He understood capitalism in terms of its underlying He understood capitalism as a system of social actions
productive forces that shape the systems of social under lied by interconnection among its various spheres,
relations where none is dominant
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Theoretical work could only be verified by its ability to The role of social theory is to search for valid historical
promote change and eliminate inequality patterns and relationships, rather than to change them
He emphasized on social and cultural in history in order He emphasized the major sphere of society (political,
to explain economic sphere , it is the political power that economy, religious) are equally dominant in society, it is
dominate the economic plan the status and party affiliations
He believed that the origin of the rise of capitalism in It is non economic factors
western world was economic factor
He defined social class in terms of common relationship Class is a group of people who shared situations is a
between a group of individuals and means of production possible based on market situations and means of
consumption
Individuals are the carriers of class interest The actions of individuals are likely to vary according to
their occupations and the size of the group affected by
the class situations
Class struggle is necessary for the avoidances of the Class struggle will be occurred when the separation of
system between the proletariat and the capitalists management from the ownership of capital undermined
the structural conditions
The key function of political power is creating the way of The key function of modern political power is the
accumulating capital for the purpose of labour mitigation of the problems of class structure
exploitation
Bureaucracy is the systems to expand the capitals profit Bureaucracy enables an organization to discharge
and deteriorate the capacity of the workers in the forms of official business precisely with as much speed as
division of labour, drafting laws, creating positions , humanly possible
hierarchical systems, impersonal rules, a clear cut
separation of public and private
Religious is an independent variable for the rise of Capitalism is an independent variable for religious
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capitalism
Year
Source: The reviewer of this thesis, 2016
IX. The Argument of Max Weber has been applied by the recent sociologists (Ritzer,
2011). Sociologists try to apply Webers method to 55
It may have variety arguments which have been their own research or, even more, when they
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research and sociological theorizing (Hadden, He was making the distinction methodology
1997) between methods of science and philosophy of
science. He said methods of science are the steps,
X. the main contribution of max weber procedures used by the scientists to conduct
research: the methodology of research. Philosophy
Different classical and contemporary of science is concerned about the sprits and the
sociologists have contributed to the development of ethos of science (Weber, 1958a)
sociology; Weber was one of the classic sociologists Weber is the first scholar and sociologist to
that gave his attention on the development of sociology conceptualize that sociology is not prescriptive
(Turner, 1999; Ritzer, 2011). discipline, rather it is a descriptive and interpretative
The main contributions of Weber for the current discipline (Sociologyguide.com)
sociology as well as society are: He detailed and sophisticated analysis of the
Vertehen in his historical research is one of his best rationalization of phenomena as sociology of music
known contributions to the methodology of (Sociologyguide.com)
contemporary sociology; the task of sociological The ideas of bureaucracy and its stages and
analysis involved The interpretation of actions in character, and the occupational structure widely
terms of its subjective meaning. This methodology explored by Max Weber (Ritzer, 2011).
The driving forces for the rise of capitalism was Mostly his life span had passed on the studying of
ascetic, but not rationality (Salomon, 1935). religion and capitalism to rejoin the work of Karl
The creation of a new mentality in the economy Marx even if the duly societies were under troubles
system cant be considered as the results of in various social disorders like the eve of world war
Protestantism ( Lowith, 1993). first.
Please note that if Max Weber wasnt explore The author of the study couldnt describe about
the above ideas as well as contributions, the recent gender based explanation when he studied The
societys problems couldnt be solved via descriptive Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of capitalism
research method and the like, and the discipline of If the reviewer were given a chance to conduct
sociology would be under endangered this research, the reviewer will try to improve the quality
(sociologyguide.com). of the book by doing appropriate sample selection from
the entire continent instead of only focusing on
XI. The Setbacks of Weber During his European and some Asian religious and their economy
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1. Weber was not intimately familiar with Marxs work Webers thesis could not attempt to follow the
(much was not published until after death). It made procedures of research and following the professional
hindrances for Weber to rejoin the basic writing systems because there are no citations and
assumptions of Karl Marx (Antonio, 1985: 20). references, except index. In contrast, the researcher
2. They had not get precise empirical data from the doesnt violate the confidentiality guarantees of the
previous historical instances to study about his duly participant since the reviewer not observed the names of
societies (Sayer, 1991). the individuals as well as any situations that put the
3. He was mostly influenced by the Karl Marxs research participants at risk of harm as the result of their
ideology followers and social democratic movement participation.
when he wrote and disseminated his ideas for the
XIV. Other Scholars on the Thesis of
societies (Herva, 1988).
Max Weber
XII. Critical Discussion
The reviewer of this thesis has found that some
The reviewer has looked Webers work in scholars like the American sociologist Gerhard Lenski,
strengthen and weakness parts. So, what the reviewer of and Peter L. Berger and David Martin have argued for
this book wants to put the strengthen part on the work of the thesis of Max Weber on their studies Religious
Weber in here that: Impact on Politics and Protestant Revolution in Latin
The author used different methods as multi- angular America respectively. And, other scholars like David
lenses in studying about it in different social life in Cantoni and Dudley and Blum have argued against the
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history, which means Weber appeared to offer a thesis of Weber on their studies The Economic Effects
much more round approach to the social world of the Protestant Reformation and Religion and
during his studies on Protestant Ethic and The Spirit Economic Growth respectively.
of Capitalism.
Weber intended to study his work based on causes XV. The Current Situations on the
and effects relations in more probable Max Webers Idea
The reviewer admire to Weber for describing about
the ethos of religion is one of the variables that The reviewer of this article has searched for
enable to come the expansion of capitalism and what the Webers ideas seem like to internationally and
well economic life through the name of religious nationally today. The reviewer observed that the famous
dogma because this idea is incredibly applied to the international companies like Microsoft Company,
private sectors today in Ethiopia. MacDonald transnational Company are managed by the
And, what the reviewer has observed the works Protestants. In Ethiopian context, Dembel, giant real
of Max Weber on the negative side are: states, different Construction Company like Yen
Command Construction Company, Alemayehu Ketema
Weber spent most of his life doing detailed historical
General Construction, and huge private companies are
studies, not finding and doing historical empirical
led and managed by the Protestants.
data
XVI. The Critiques of Max Weber religion, but Weber stated capitalism as a dependent
variable of religion. Weber also argued a remarkable
Weber never views society as organic and holistic fusion of historical research and sociological theorizing,
entities and social world with delineated boundaries to understand any social states of affairs or societal
(Herva, 1998; Parson, 1967). conditions are to understand the actions of individual
Weber couldnt have used research techniques and members there in.
procedures for his work (Ritzer, 2011). The reviewer critical discussions on the strength
Weber rejects the assumption that the origin of and the weakness parts have also been described. And,
economic ethic for the purpose of the exploitation of the ethical considerations of Weber has been illustrated,
labour power (Lowith, 1993). and finally the critiques of Weber which were given by
The spirits of capitalism are superficial for keeping functionalists and conflict theorist have been involved on
the benefits of the whole societies (Sayer, 1991) his study
Dialectical materials on class struggle, not
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dialectical philosophy, are necessary for the References Rfrences Referencias
elimination of the system of capitalism (Marx,1843
Year
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quoted in Ritzer, 2011)
introduction. Ca: Pluto Press
XVII. Conclusion 2. Antonio, L.J. and Glassman.R.M. eds. 1985. A 57
Weber- Marx Dialogue. Lawrence, Kensas:
At the same time as summarizing major reviews University Press of Kansas
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4), 1970
The main intention areas of Max Weber to study 10. Giddens, Antony eds. 2005. The Protestant Ethic
about The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism and the Spirits of Capitalism: Translated by Talcot
were: Weber wanted to illustrate how the origin of a Parson. Publishers: Taylor and Francis Group,
peculiar spirit that eventually made modern rational 2005.
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demonstrate and rejoin how history and economy had Introduction to the Classical Tradition. Ca: Broad
come over to modern western societies based on View press
German Historical School and Marxist School of 12. Herva, Soma. 1988. The Genesis of Max Webers
Economics. Verstehende Sociologie. Acta Sociologic 31: 146
Max Weber has used comparative-historical 13. Kalberg, Stephen.1985. 1985 The Role of Ideal
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Weber has debated to the work of Marx on 14. Kalberg, Stephen. 1997. Max Webers Sociology:
religion and Economy. Among their dialogue Marx Research Strategies and Modes of Analysis. In
believed capitalism as an independent variable of Charles Camic (ed.), Reclaiming the Sociological