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THE FORMATION OF MODERN NATIONS SEEN THROUGH THE LENS OF RELEVANT PERSPECTIVES

L. Cviklova

Abstract

Through employing a comparative perspective, major components of the intellectual contribution of Barrington Moore and Max Weber are presented; both of them made a unique contribution to the explanation of the formation of modern nations under capitalist conditions resulting from the interdependence of culture, industrialization and the transformation of social structures. First, Moore's and Weber's reasoning about the emergence of modern capitalism is clarified; while Moore ascribes crucial importance to social differentiation and the configuration of social classes for the emergence of democratic and non-democratic versions of capitalism in the most significant national systems, Weber stresses the role of religion ? particularly the moral imperative of various Protestant sects – for the emergence of capitalist structures. Second, differences between these two authors concerning the constitution of concepts are presented; while Moore without explanation employed general notions such as democracy, dictatorship, revolution and social class, Weber's methodology asserted the importance of cultural phenomena and the subjective meaning of values implying the constitution and employment of ideal types. Third, key components of the intellectual contribution of Barrington Moore and Max Weber to the explanation of capitalism and the methodology of social sciences are highlighted (including the contribution of Gale Stokes as regards the 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.

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