Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress

by Lawrence E. Harrison, Samuel P. Huntington

Prominent scholars and journalists ponder the question of why, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the world is more divided than ever between the rich and the poor, between those living in freedom and those under oppression.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Sociology, Cultural, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 18, 2000

About the author

Lawrence Elliot Harrison (March 11, 1932 - December 9, 2015) was an American scholar known for his work on international development and being former USAID mission director to various Latin American countries. He is the past director of the Cultural Change Institute at the Fletcher School, Tufts University, where he also served as an adjunct lecturer.

Reviews

[Patrick McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress edited by Samuel Huntington and Lawrence E. Harrison is basically an interesting discussion about how cultural values affect the progress of societies. I can't say that there were a lot of answers to why some societies are able to develop easier than others. There seems to be plenty of disagreements between the various essayists as to why this is. Furthermore, most of these essays are written from a pro-free market perspective. That is the preferred model of a developed state, this is played out as the US versus say Sweden. A lot of food for thought in these essays though.

[A-Wei Lu · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this book no stars I would.

This is by far the most ethnocentric piece of garbage I've had the displeasure of laying my hands on. With references to likewise Eurocentric justifications of Western imperialism, Harrison weaves a logically fallacious and repugnant narrative of why some cultures are superior and destined for progress. While discounting that industrialization and Western "progress" is simply a value of select few societies, he has the nerve to denounce others' values and norms.

I feel like I tasted a cockroach this book is so trash. Go fuck yourself Harrison, white supremacist piece of self-righteous shit.

[Mafalda Cardeira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Economic view of the cultural policies. Historical examples but very incomplete. Mostly economic focused. Culture is left to be only related to economy. Should be more like economic culture and not culture matters, since the profound issues of culture development related areas and culture in strictu sensus is left behind. Hoping for something different, but read it until the very end.

[Seth Rumbley · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a few great chapters; I enjoyed Michael E. Porter's "Attitudes, Values, Beliefs, and the Microeconomics of Prosperity" and found Lucian W. Pye's "'Asian Values': From Dynamos to Dominoes?" thought-provoking. However, the vast majority of this book came across as ethnocentric and patronizing. I would recommend searching for Porter's work elsewhere and skipping this book entirely.

[Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. From my own personal experiences of traveling abroad, I agree with the authors of the many essays in this book.

[Yohannes Fassika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a collection of great and thought provoking articles. Although it was written 20 years ago the ideas are still relevant.

[Eye on Asia and Africa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What has been the staying power or follies of this book’s legacy, almost twenty-five years later? When this collection of essays, based on a culture conference, was published in 2000, many ideas on the influences, limits and qualities of culture on development progress and democratic governance were hotly polarizing. Whatever the research consensus today, editors Harrison and Huntington pushed the envelope of an agenda that allowed, 25 years later, a more serious discussion on religion and culture and hopefully disbanded the extremes of cultural relativism and ethno-centric superiority complexes.

The collection of essays is arranged in such a way to allow the contributors to introduce various theories on socio-cultural, economic and political beliefs that could influence a march towards modernity and developmental progress. While the editors claim to allow dissenting voices to comment on fellow book contributors there is a subtle preference for various values that are found most prominently in a Judeo-Christian, protestant leaning, tradition. Readers should note that book editor Harrison’s most recent publication (2017) argues outright for the values housed in the Jewish, Protestant and Confucian cultures.

A few of the questions debated in “Culture Matters” include whether culture can determine a county’s success or whether policies (when enforced) can be the salvation for culture. If politics brings about change, can it be permanent without a following cultural (heart) shift? It would be an obvious self-conceited ethnocentrism if the “Culture Matters” contributors did not attempt to dig beyond culture general and explore a value and attitude typology that make up the ingredients of various cultures. The books summary does conclude with a list of optimal cultural values for development (pg. 277 (Michael Fairbanks) and 299 (Lawrence Harrison). No spoilers in this review.

If success is defined by wealth generation, positive economic growth, equitable development, among other items, then at first glance one might claim that cultures that espouse an everyday duty, responsibility, motive to self-centered wealth, and self-empowerment are important culture ingredients (pg. 12 (David Landes)). Early in the volume, the authors argue that a comparative advantage is not enough to compete in the world of Tom Friedman’s Flat Earth. Instead, a competative advantage, one that includes the values and culturally specific perks (some even ethically ambiguous) in any given society that help any nation compete against its global competitors (pg. 17 (Michael Porter)).

There is a paradox, and a politically frustrating one at that, stemming from the conclusion that Jewish, Protestant or Confucian cultures (and their inherent typologies) have produced the most prosperous development environments. The religion that at least Max Weber described in the protestant work ethic is a self-centered one, motivated not to service but to divining who God’s chosen elect for entry into heaven might be. The typology of the successful culture is paradoxically not aligned with the Protestant (Christian) fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26) but instead, the virtues of love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness are listed in the “progress resistant” category along with faith-based planning. The missing Spiritual fruits of patience and self-control do play a part in some typologies of progress-accepting cultures (pg. 48-53 (Mariano Grondona).

Religious beliefs, according to the authors, are often found to be maladaptive to progress. While the study of culture continues to experience a practical revival in geo-politics, a condescending attitude towards the religious/faith elements of any culture continues; evidenced in subtle and non-subtle author contributions (incl. pg. 134 (Robert Edgerton).

To square the paradox, theologian, Wayne Grudem and economist, Barry Asmus compiled similar data on Harrison and Huntington’s progressive typology and applied it, albeit in somewhat selective manner, to a more in-depth Biblical teaching on prudent economics and democratic governance in “The Poverty of Nations” (2013). It is an attempt to apply basic values across any culture while respecting faith values. True to a paradox’s nature, even Grudem's analysis comes up short but it's a start.

The ”Culture Matters” contributors attempt to battle their own inherent biases by suggesting conclusions that there is no perfect formula for development or even a common definition of development. Culture is not relativistic but instead, the earth’s cultural diversity and varied successes could imply a wisdom in plurality (pg. 168 (Richard Shweder). In addition, the analysis of culture’s impact changes depending on the level of analysis. In a collectivistic culture, the individual, national and international agents of influence evolve a different symbiosis than the same three levels inside and between more individualistic societies (pg. 284 (Stace Lindsay)). The best analysis combines culture and its context (pg. 254 (Lucian Pye)).

In addition, cultures defy dichotomies, as much as academia prefers the two-sided options (the Cold War days were so simple, were they not?), analysis that compares “the West” to “the Rest” or “Individualist” to “Collectivist” or “Traditional” to “Progressive” will miss extremely important nuances found in historical, geographical, political or other contexts (pg. 261 (Tu Wei-Ming)).

In Christian Realism (International Relations), the social gospel and liberation theology are also considered only partial or even misguided steps in working towards peace and global development. To square, again, the paradox of a Christian life in public service, Christian Realism admits to the universal blight of sin, a wisdom in pluralism, the benefits of grace and the application of prudence in national and foreign policy. It is also important who and in what capacity a cultural significant policy is being enacted. Individuals of faith have spiritual duties with intrinsic power which differs from the human power influences of politics.

As singer songwriter Michael Card sang, there is a power in the Biblical paradox that still defies explanation by “Culture Matters”, “The Poverty of Nations” or the tenets of Christian Realism. It is the wisdom that frustrates the wise; it is the power that elevates the weak; it is gospel that manifested first in the lowly, the despised, the rejected in order to nullify the claims of the elite.

“The power of paradox opens our eyes and blinds those who say they can see.” Michael Card.

So no, faith is not progress resistant. But the power of the Spirit will not be limited to the goals in politics and policy. To return to the book’s “either-or” dichotomal traps, faith and religion are best studied in their specific contexts with varying analysis depending on the individual, their personal practice or its application as a group (church, synagogue, mosque, temple).

The age of cultural relativism and its moral counterpart are past. But this work still leaves many questions regarding the practical application of cultural values, some which will not go away, regardless of their so-called “progress resistant” character. Finally, the value typology project continues at worldvaluesurvey dot org; the globe’s main cultures compared on a y axis of Tradition vs. Secular-Rational and an x axis of Survival vs. self-expression.

[Chelan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Автор делает смелое предположение, что весь третий мир бедный потому что у них такая культура. Неприспособленная под богатство, прогресс, развитые демократические институты и прочие прелести западной цивилизации. Смело приводит в пример читателю Южную Корею, видимо, подразумевая, что средний читатель имбецил и не знает, как появилась на свет Южная Корея и на чем основано её "благополучие". Читать только поклонникам джедаизма.

[Liann McCreery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, a reaction to our reactionary political correctness age. Still sensitive, but of course human progress is a subjective, western ideal and once basic needs are met, some cultures are happy.

Sadly, the overconsumption of some cultures is at the expense of the basic needs of those not on the same progress escalator, and that's where we run into big problems.

[Amar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been assigned in the class.
Powered through it during the vacation after that semester.
Many information I had as new that is true.
But this was clearly a combination of essays.
Those essays were assigned to famous people as a task.
Some of these essays are quite bad quality.

[Katie]

It promises some scandalous chapters by Africa development experts. Of course this resonates with me because I believe that culture does matter when it comes to foreign policy and development.

[Fábio Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relevant examples and great insights

[Alejandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Academic discussions from the symposium organized by Harvard.
A few articles are worth reading, some not.
Moral maps by Richard A. Shweder takes a lighter view of Western centric conceptions of progress and poses the relativity of advances in society vs the wider held view that economic growth is equal to progress.
Does Africa need a Cultural Adjustment Program by Daniel Etounga-Manguelle sets forth
"The Four Revolutions We Must Lead
Education.... Politics ... Economics ... Social Life"

Others discuss the relation between certain cultural values and economic development.

[Dave/Maggie Bean · Rating 1 out of 5]

(((Yawn)))

Erstwhile and ersatz "relativists" belatedly conclude that the merits of the relativism they once espoused are - well -- relative.

[faust · Rating 1 out of 5]

(⅓)

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Culture Matters was a mostly interesting collection of essays in the role culture does or does not play in economic development. It presented a diverse array of viewpoints and read as a serious, courteous and thoughtful discussion.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of essays that discuss and attempts to explain the characteristics or factors in a particular culture that consequently leads to greater economic development. It avoids value judgments about a culture and its output, such as determining whether a Verdi opera is "better" than hip hop....Instead it focuses on quantifiable factors, such as per capita GDP and access to clean water, that are derived from various cultures and sub-cultures.

Although a few of the essays are a little pedantic and read like master's theses, most are easy-going and a breeze, even thuogh they're all thoughtful.

[Georges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estou lendo esse livro que através de diversos artigos que antes foram palestras proferidas num encontro em Harvard. Neles se debate como aspectos culturais podem impactar o desenvolvimento econômico. Um livro muito importante para quem quer sair do modelo de patrulha ideológica dominante e está aberto para ouvir opiniões diversas, as vezes até contraditórias mas que servem como base para uma reflexão profunda sobre as sociedades e sobre o futuro do mundo.

[Ci · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of scholarly summaries largely from a modern Western mainstream view. The authors are renowned academics, but the pieces are too dry and short to serve as an educational text, nor making for lively reading. Also the topics within this collection may also have suffered the irrelevancy of time. Much as changed since 2000.

[Matt Mayevsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of papers from 2000 on the importance of culture (including values and patterns of social behavior) on progress. Topics that are not time-barred. Not all papers are equal, but many of them contain valuable, inspirational content that illustrates how culture shapes civilization.

[Shuman]

sociology and political science have a genius baby...and it teaches you how the world perceives and judges itself.

[Glenn]

This looked interesting from the shelf in our history dept. office. A variety of essays on how culture affects economic development.

[Boy · Rating 4 out of 5]

very insightful writings about social science

[ernesto cuellar · Rating 4 out of 5]

from myself, to understand mine mind

[Yonnibardavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[Florencia Rossini]

Un must, para leer diversos enfoques y reflexionar. Cultura vs. desarrollo?

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on culture and its influence on developing countries.