Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
Civilisations and Capitalism: On Economic Growth and Institutions
University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- 1 University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Copy link · social · email
Abstract
Theories of political culture have typically refrained from a reinterpretation of the idea of civilisations, as a few well-known traditional approaches to this concept have been severely criticized. Yet, one may probe into the relevance of the concept of a set of civilisations for mankind in the period of globalisation. However, it is not the Weber thesis linking religion with modern capitalism or economic growth that appears most promising today when enquiring into cultural effects. Instead, it is the spread of respect for the rule of law regime, which has a much longer history than the democratic polity.
KeywordsGlobal CapitalismInstitutional EconomicsPolitical CultureCivilisationsEconomic GrowthRule of LawWeber’s ThesisMarxist ApproachLow and High PoliticsPrincipal-Agent ProblematicDue Process of LawEconomic Sociology
- Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. (2013). Why nations fail: The origins of power, prosperity and poverty. London: Profile Press.
- Coter, R. B., & Ulen, T. (2011). Law and economics. New York: Pearson.
- Diamond, J. (1999). Guns, germs, and steel: The fates of human societies. New York: Norton.
- Everett, A. (2003). Cicero. New York: Random House.
- Ferguson, N. (2012). The great degeneration. London: Penguin.
- Friedman, M. (1962). Capitalism and freedom. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Huntington, S. (1996). The clash of civilisations. New York: Simon and Schuster.
- Kaufmann, D., Kraay, A., & Mastruzzi, M. (2010). Governance matters VIII: Aggregate and individual governance indicators 1996-2008. Washington DC: World Bank Development Research Group, Macroeconomics and Growth Team.
- Langer, F. (2012). Werner sombart, 1863-1941 (3rd ed.). Munich: C.H. Beck.
- Morris, I. (2011). Why the west rules—For now: The patterns of history, and what they reveal about the future. New York: Picador.
- Rasmusen, E. (2006). Games and information. Oxford: Blackwell.
- Raz, J. (2009). The authority of law. Oxford: Oxford U.P.
- Schumpeter, J. (1989). Essays: On entrepreneurs, innovations, business cycles, and the evolution of capitalism. Piscataway, NJ: Transaction Publishers.
- Sombart, W. (1927, 1992). Der moderne kapitalismus I-III. Munich: DVT Taschenbuch.
- Spengler, O. (1918). Der untergang des abendlandes. Wien: Braumüller.
- Toynbee, A. (1934-1954). A study of history, Bd. I-X, London.
- Weber, M. (1978). Economy and society. Berkeley: University of California Press.
- Weber, M. (2001). The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. London: Routledge.
- Weber, M. (1988). Gesammelte aufsatze zur religionssoziologie I-III. Tübingen: J C B. Mohr.
- Wolf, E. R. (1982). Europe and the people without history. Berkeley: University of California Press.
- World Bank (2009). Governance matters 2009: Worldwide governance indicators 1996-2008. Washington DC: World Bank.