1. Theories of macro cultural differences
Week 16
Comparative Sociology

2. Last week Different forms of capitalism
Anglo-American
Germanic
Briefly considered how these could be linked to culture
This week consider macro cultural differences, rather than micro work of cultural studies

3. Outline What is culture? Hofstede’s studies Inglehart’s theory
of values
Cultural change?

4. Cultural Differences?
Awkward conversations may be one sign of cultural differences in small talk

5. What is culture?
Symbolic and learned aspects of human societies (‘mental programming’)
Language
Custom
Convention
Set of belief systems- often taken-for-granted
Not fixed, it changes over time

6. Layer’s of culture National level
Regional/ethnic/religious/linguistic level
Gender
Generational
Social Class
Organizational/corporate level

7. Internalisation of the ‘rules’
How to interact with people?
Why in Europe does opera have a higher status than soaps?
Is it acceptable to belch at the dinner table?

8. Cultural expectations in the classroom
Discuss with the people sitting next to you cultural norms during lectures.

9. Hofstede’s studies Studies of organisational culture
National cultural differences between
Power distance
Collectivism vs individualism
Femininity vs masculinity
Uncertainty avoidance

10. Power distance
The extent to which inequality is accepted by those at the bottom
Large power differences
Children expected to respect/obey elders
Hierarchical Workplaces- lots of supervisory levels
Subordinates should be told what to do
Powerful have rightful privileges
High countries: Malaysia, Mexico, Arab states
Low countries : Austria, Israel, Denmark, Costa Rica, UK

11. Collectivism vs individualism
from birth people integrated into strong cohesive groups
Guatemala, Pakistan, Costa Rica
Individualism
Ties between people are loose, individuals look after themselves and immediate family
USA, UK, New Zealand

12. Key elements Collectivist Individualist Extended family
Identity based in social
Harmony to be maintained
Shame (on group)
Individualist
Care of self/immediate family
Identity based in individual
Honest people speak their minds
Guilt (individual)

13. Masculinity/Femininity
Masculine societies
Dominant values are material success and progress
Men/Women distinct roles and emotions
Stress on competition between peers
Winning through conflict
Masculine countries: Japan, Italy, UK, USA
Feminine countries: Sweden, Costa Rica Thailand

14. Uncertainty avoidance
Weak
Uncertainty is normal
Aggression/emotions should be hidden
Comfortable with ambiguous situations and unfamiliar risks
Lenient rules for children on taboos
Motivation by achievement
UK, Singapore, Jamaica
Strong
Uncertainty is a threat
Aggression/emotions can be vented
Fear of ambiguous situations and unfamiliar risks
Tight rules for children on taboos
Motivation by security
Greece, Uruguay, Japan

15. The UK According to Hofstede: Discuss with your
Low power distance
Individualism
Masculine country
Weak uncertainty avoidance
Discuss with your
neighbours if you think
this is right

16. Inglehart’s theory of values
Culture legitimates social order
Culture integrates societies
Values change as societies change
Modernization
Postmodernization
Predicable shift in culture

17. Inglehart Insecurity Security
Politics
Need for strong leaders
Order
Xenophobia
Economics
Economic growth
Achievement/motivation
Sexuality/Family norm
2 parent heterosexual family
Politics
De-emphasis on political authority
Self-expression
Exotic/new are stimulating
Economics
Quality of life
Subjective well-being
Sexuality/Family norm
Individual sexual gratification

18. Move to postmodern values
Countries vary as to where they sit between these two positions
But
Rich and secure countries more likely to have postmodern values
Within societies wealthy/elites more likely to have postmodern values
Fluctuations can be caused by war/ economic downturn/ civil disorder etc
Socialisation means that values are likely to be generational (younger more postmodern)

19. Critiques of Inglehart
Over-simplification of complex issues
Unlikely to be a direct relationship between economic development (modern to postmodern) and cultural shifts
Values are related to the context within which they become relevant
‘Equality’ was upheld in Ancient Greece but did not include many (women, slaves etc)

20. Inglehart’s theory
Discuss with the people sitting next to you how far you think changes in values are predicable in the way that Inglehart has argued

21. Summary There is agreement that national cultures are different
But what those differences are and how they relate to other factors in each society is debated
Hofstede - 4 major divides
Inglehart – Values changing over time

22. Next week
Continue our look at cultures by looking at these concepts in particular:
Cultural imperialism
New world order
Clash of cultures