Modernization, cultural change, and the persistence of traditional values

Modernization theorists from Karl Marx to Daniel Bell have argued that econ omic development brings pervasive cultural changes. But others, from Max We ber to Samuel Huntington, have claimed that cultural values are an enduring and autonomous influence on society. We test the thesis that economic deve lopment is linked with systematic changes in basic values. Using data from the three waves of the World Values Surveys, which include 65 societies and 75 percent of the world's population, we find evidence of both massive cul tural change and the persistence of distinctive cultural traditions. Econom ic development is associated with shifts away from absolute norms and value s toward values that are increasingly rational, tolerant, trusting, and par ticipatory. Cultural change, however is path dependent. The broad cultural heritage of a society-Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Confucian, or C ommunist-leaves an imprint on values that endures despite modernization. Mo reover the differences between the values held by members of different reli gions within given societies are much smaller than are cross-national diffe rences. Once established, such cross-cultural differences become part of a national culture transmitted by educational institutions and mass media. We conclude with some proposed revisions of modernization theory.