Max Weber's Concept Research Articles

Legitimacy in Internal Conflict: Insurgency and Counterinsurgency

Max Weber's (the Weberian) concept of legitimacy is the most applied form of legitimacy but lacks the concept to address the contemporary complex issues that are prevalent in today's unconventional conflicts. Legitimacy is neither state-centric nor top-down alone. It is dynamic and may shift from one group to the other in the contested security environment and, take the bottom-up approach. The 'Western' Counterinsurgency undermines the power of the insurgents who would build their legitimacy to advance their cause. This is mainly because the 'Western' view of state formation dominates discussions on legitimacy. Insurgents and counterinsurgents both compete for legitimacy at the local level, to win over the belief and trust of the people that primarily give the legitimacy the shape of bottom-up.

The Arts as a Vocation

Abstract This article is a revised version of the 2022 Michael Volkerling Memorial Lecture. It offers insights for the GLAM sector into the history of Australian national cultural policy (NCP), now in a new phase with the delivery of Revive in January 2023. It draws on the author's experience as a theatre director, a researcher into evaluation methods, and a policy activist to reflect on the challenges facing cultural policies at the current time. If arts organizations confront tough questions about diversity and inclusion, what happened to the economic ones of market efficiency and value-add that seemed all-consuming just a few years ago? The article utilizes Max Weber's conception of “a vocation” to reconsider the aims and purpose of an NCP. As the world contends with problems of entrenched inequality, catastrophic climate change, and democratic deficit, how can cultural policies, as distinct from other kinds, address these? Should they even try?

МЕЖЦИВИЛИЗАЦИОННЫЕ КОНТАКТЫ НА ДАЛЬНЕМ ВОСТОКЕ РОССИИ В XIX–XX ВЕКАХ И ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЯ ЭТНОМЕНТАЛЬНЫХ КОМПОНЕНТОВ СИСТЕМЫ ЖИЗНЕДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ

The article is devoted to the analysis of the mechanism of ethnocultural projection of European mentality, ethics, morality, trade technologies, sociocultural image of merchants, industrialists, officials, military officers, cultural workers, who influenced in the second half of 19th – early 20th centuries on the development of the Russian Far East in industrial, trade, transport, scientific, educational discourses and on the life system in general. The most significant influence on the process of development and transformation of the Far Eastern outskirts of the Russian Empire was exerted by the German settlers. The research methodology based on Max Weber's concept of entrepreneurial ethics, is based on the belief that the history and culture of the Russian Far East in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, on the one hand, are linked to the all-Russian sociocultural processes and, on the other hand, to the Far Eastern specificity that emerged as a resulting of the influence of the European mentality. The article reveals the essence, structure and functions of trade, transport, industrial companies in the Amur region, Primorye and Sakhalin. The analysis of the phenomenon of the emerged regional culture is relevant. The immigrants, The article is devoted to the analysis of the mechanism of ethnocultural projection of European mentality, ethics, morality, trade technologies, sociocultural image of merchants, industrialists, officials, military officers, cultural workers, who influenced in the second half of 19th – early 20th centuries on the development of the Russian Far East in industrial, trade, transport, scientific, educational discourses and on the life system in general. The most significant influence on the process of development and transformation of the Far Eastern outskirts of the Russian Empire was exerted by the German settlers. The research methodology based on Max Weber's concept of entrepreneurial ethics, is based on the belief that the history and culture of the Russian Far East in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, on the one hand, are linked to the all-Russian sociocultural processes and, on the other hand, to the Far Eastern specificity that emerged as a resulting of the influence of the European mentality. The article reveals the essence, structure and functions of trade, transport, industrial companies in the Amur region, Primorye and Sakhalin. The analysis of the phenomenon of the emerged regional culture is relevant. The immigrants, carriers of different ethno-cultural mental models and ethnic stereotypes of behaviour, not only transformed this territory, the surrounding world in an industrial way, but also planned its development in the long term, for what purpose they used their own financial resources and efforts to create scientific and cultural institutions: Society studying the Amur region, the East Institute, the future Far East State Technical University, they financed ethnographic expeditions. The result of the work is the author's conviction that mental attitudes have sufficient stability, a reliable basis for the development of the Far Eastern region, for a positive dialogue of cultures, for optimal adaptation of immigrants to a foreign cultural environment, to different natural and climatic conditions and regional specifics.

UNDERSTANDING MAX WEBER'S THOUGHTS ON CAPITALISM IN INDONESIA

Understanding Max Weber's thoughts on the life of capitalism in Indonesia is not an easy job because it requires in-depth observation in its implementation. Therefore, the problem in this study is what exactly is Max Weber's concept of the Protestant Ethic and the spirit of modern capitalism and is it still relevant to be actualized in Indonesia? The finding is that Max Weber's concept of Protestant ethics is the doctrine of predistination, asceticism, good manners, hard work, frugal living, use of time, money and wealth. The spirit of modern capitalism that is developing now is the rationalization of capitalism based on scientific principles and the development of personal wealth, production for the market, production for the masses. The relevance of Max Weber's thoughts about the spirit of capitalism applied in Indonesia is progressive because the spirit of capitalism is related to cultural values or human life. Max Weber's concept of Capitalism encourages the Indonesian people to take rationalization and innovation and be creative.

BIROKRASI, GOOD GOVERNANCE SERTA ARTI MAKNA PENDIDIKAN POLITIK

Realizing good governance, the Indonesian government, both central and regional, needs to immediately carry out bureaucratic reforms that are not only at the level of commitment but also at the level of real life. It is hoped that this will reduce bureaucratic pathologies such as mal-administration that leads to corruption, collusion, and nepotism. Max Weber's legal rational bureaucracy concept is actualized in Indonesia with various advantages and disadvantages as seen from the behavior of the bureaucracy. Bureaucratic behavior arises when there is an interaction between individual characteristics and bureaucratic characteristics; especially with the various issues that are developing and current law enforcement related to bureaucratic pathology. Gradually, in Indonesia, bureaucratic reform is carried out in the dimensions of institutions, apparatus resources, management, and culture/mind set. Both the central government and local governments should carry out bureaucratic reform through consistent and sustainable learning organizations, taking into account critical success factors.

"Disenchantment of the World". The Thesis of Max Weber's Concept of the Sociology of Law

Goal – the purpose of this text is to present the assumptions that are characteristic for Max Weber’s concept of the sociology of law. They undeniably fit into the picture of his vision about the state of contemporary political, economic, legal and social reality, which he collectively described with the term he coined – “the disenchantment of the world”. Research methodology – conducted through an analysis of the literature on the subject and by compiling the results of the undertaken analysis. Score/results – Max Weber, conducting an analysis of his contemporary world, tracing the historical changes that led to its formation, and studying the impact of these changes on his spheres of interest, came to the conclusion that with the development of Western civilization, magical explanations of reality gradually gave way to more “down-to-earth” explanations. Ultimately, Weber referred to the process of turning to reason and logic as rationalization. Rationalization, in turn, led to a state of affairs that Weber referred to as the “disenchantment of the world”. It should be reiterated after Grosby that “if, in fact, Weber was correct that all magical forces have been driven out of modern life, then there would no longer be a need to constantly ask ourselves about the meaning and sense of human life; there would no longer be any number of ethical disputes and paradoxes with which we are confronted; we would no longer struggle with the doubts that wrap around all action. There would only be a calculation that would determine the most effective ways to problem-free solutions” [Grosby, 2013: 308]. And as is well known, including from autopsy, both individuals and society as a whole continue to ask themselves questions that reason cannot answer. Originality/value – presenting a theoretically observable phenomenon, the grasp of which, however, often escapes observers. The text makes the reader aware of the complexity of the processes that have shaped today’s dimension of law. The text aims to make the reader aware that the rationalization of the world has led to the rationalization of law, and, through convergence, the rationalization of law has led to the rationalization and disenchantment of the world.

When the Search for Enchantment Is Bent: "The Scouring of the Shire"

When the Search for Enchantment Is Bent:"The Scouring of the Shire" John Rosegrant (bio) The Scouring of the Shire" confronts the reader of The Lord of the Rings with an abrupt change in content and style, from evoking enchantment as Tolkien conceived of it in "On Fairy-stories" to the brutal realism of totalitarianism. On one level this loss of enchantment is an extension of a central theme of the book—the effort to maintain enchantment in the face of disenchantment. But I shall argue that Tolkien's depiction of realistic totalitarianism warns us of another vicissitude of the search for enchantment: that it can lead to a state of mind that is like a perverse caricature of the enchantment Tolkien creates in the rest of the book. This warning is accomplished not by showing characters experiencing this vicissitude, but by creating for the reader an enchanting path that winds to an authoritarian state that shares some features of enchantment. Tolkien did not precisely define what he meant by enchantment. After describing "Faërian drama" in "On Fairy-stories" he wrote, "We need a word for this elvish craft." He rejected "magic" because magic "is not an art but a technique; its desire is power in this world, domination of things and wills." Instead, "the more potent and specially elvish craft I will, for lack of a less debatable word, call Enchantment" (OFS 63–64). But this is vague, because as the editors of the expanded edition point out, "no definition of what the faërian version [of drama] consists of is given" (OFS 112). Dictionary definitions of enchantment are not very helpful either; the editors give "'to cast under a spell, to bewitch'" (OFS 112), but this does not capture the breadth and depth of Tolkien's project, and could encompass what Tolkien names magic as well as enchantment. I think Tolkien comes closest to limning what he means by the concept in a description of Faërie as a whole, "The realm of fairy-story is wide and deep and high and filled with many things: all manner of beasts and birds are found there; shoreless seas and stars uncounted; beauty that is an enchantment, and an ever-present peril; both joy and sorrow as sharp as swords" (OFS 27). To further define this "debatable" word as it applies to Tolkien's oeuvre, it is important to put him in conversation with Max Weber's concept of the disenchantment of the world. Weber stated that in traditional society "the world remain[s] a great enchanted garden" [End Page 171] (Sociology 270) imbued with meaning and with mysterious spiritual powers. The process of rationalization that defines modernity, on the other hand, "means that in principle, then, we are not ruled by mysterious, unpredictable forces, but that, on the contrary, we can in principle control everything by means of calculation. That in turn means the disenchantment of the world" (Weber, "Science" 12–13). Curry has argued that Tolkien provides a re-enchantment of the world; in light of the ongoing losses of enchantment in The Lord of the Rings, pointed out among others by Senior, Hannon, and Parker, I have proposed that Tolkien's work is better understood not as providing re-enchantment but as depicting enchantment and disenchantment in a dialogue wherein each undoes the other, with neither reaching primacy. "Tolkien reinstates enchantment to create feelings of wonder and relatedness, but simultaneously alerts the reader that this enchantment is at risk for loss. Tolkien never establishes that either enchantment or loss is 'victorious,' instead leaving them in a conversation that maintains this fundamental uncertainty" (Rosegrant 15; emphasis in original). I think that at the intersection of Tolkien's dialogue between enchantment and loss and Weber's concepts of enchantment and disenchantment we can recognize the essential aspects of enchantment as being a sense of wonder, meaningfulness, and connection to an Other. What Tolkien shows playing out in his dialogue between enchantment and loss is the basic psychological need in modernity to find ways to experience enchantment in the face of disenchantment, lest one dwell in the bleak iron cage Weber described. In what follows I will discuss how...

Promoting the Methodist Woman Preacher: Phoebe Palmer's Concept of ‘Female Prophesying’ and the Question of Spiritual Authority

ABSTRACT This article investigates the seeming dissonance between Phoebe Palmer's (1807–74) role as a charismatic leader who emphasized an unmediated, literalist approach to the Bible and her adoption of complex historical-critical arguments to defend female preaching. Drawing on Max Weber's concept of charisma, the article traces Palmer's performance as a pronounced biblicist before discussing her use of historical-contextual and linguistic arguments in response to male opposition to her ministry. The article presents Palmer as an innovative theologian and evangelist who negotiated male authority by strategically employing critical scholarship to establish ‘female prophesying’ as a necessary means to further the cause of holiness.

Kepemimpinan Ulama Dalam Tinjauan Sosiologi

Linking the theme of the study of leadership and ulama (clerics) from a sociological perspective is an interesting matter. Because, the theme of leadership and ulama (clerics) is a multidisciplinary field. On the other hand, ulama (clerics) have an important role in people's lives. Ulama (clerics) have a role in the context of rapid social, political, and economic change. Ulama—especially in Indonesia—is used to denote someone who has a deep knowledge of Islam and is a religious figure and occupies an important and strategic position in the social world. This article will discuss the Ulama (cleric) from the perspective of the sociology of leadership. The discussion in this article uses Max Weber's theory of charisma. As it is known, charisma is pinned on certain qualities of an individual's personality that are different from ordinary people, and he is treated as someone who has blessings from the supernatural, superhuman, or at least, specifically has extraordinary powers or qualities. Therefore, Max Weber's concept of charisma is used to analyze the charismatic scholars from Turkey and Indonesia. This charismatic cleric (ulama) is addressed to the figures of Badiuzzaman Said Nursi, Fethullah Gullen, KH. Hasyim Asy'ari, and KH. Ahmad Dahlan.

Евристики Макса Вебера про університет та освіту і виклики ХХІ століття

The article is devoted to the study of Max Weber's view of the problems of education and the university in the light of its latest actualizations. The chosen subject is studied using both philosophical and sociological tools. Max Weber's concept is studied in the context of its historical conditions of formation and development, in comparison with classical and modern concepts, as well as in terms of its heuristic capabilities in describing, analyzing and explaining modern problems and challenges in the field of education in general and in the university world in particular. On the basis of the historical and cultural retrospective of Weber's Germany at the end of the 19th century, the prerequisites for the formation of the Weberian concept are studied and compared with the socio-cultural situation at the beginning of the 21st century. The authors of the article, critically approaching Weberian epistemologiсs, separately focus on the theoretical and methodological limitations and vulnerabilities of the application of the Weberian concept in the modern world, while pointing out the epistemological advantages and opportunities that it offers. Such subjects as the importance of the political in educational activities; perspectives of the university in the society of commodification; the importance of the worldview component in comparison with generally significant knowledge; place of scientific asceticism and its limitations are revealed. Weber's ethical concepts (“absolute ethics”, “ethics of persuasion”, “ethics of responsibility”) and their heuristic possibilities in the analysis of transformations of the university and education are analyzed in detail. The logical and epistemological gaps in Weber's concept are critically examined, its internal complexity is shown, built on the basis of the ontology of the plurality of social orders. A conclusion is made about the potential of Weber's concepts and ideas for analyzing the current state of the university, science and education.

Rasionalitas Masyarakat Desa Suwaru Kecamatan Bandung Kabupaten Tulungagung dalam Melaksakan Yasinan Di Masa Pandemi Covid-19

Abstrack The existence of the Covid-19 virus has made Indonesia impose large-scale social restrictions or PSBB. In this PSBB, restrictions are imposed, including on religious activities. Yasinan is a religious activity where people gather in one of the houses to read Yasin letters. This is of course contrary to the PSBB that is being enforced by the government. The purpose of this article is to find out the reasons for the community to carry out activities during the pandemic. This study used a qualitative research method with the research subjects of the Suwaru Village community. The data from this study were obtained through interviews. The theory used is Max Weber's concept of rationality. In the concept of rationality sees that there are actions from individuals that influence other individuals in determining a decision. The result of this research is that the community continues to implement yasinan because it has become a habit so it is difficult to get rid of it. Another thing that underlies them is by making sure the public believes that this can protect them from disasters such as the Covid-19 virus.

Continuing Revelation and Institutionalization: Joseph Smith, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Charismatic Leadership in Antebellum America

Nineteenth-century North American religious history is filled with divinely inspired people who received and recorded new revelations. This article presents Joseph Smith Jr and Ralph Waldo Emerson as charismatic prophets who promoted the idea of continuing revelation. Drawing on Max Weber's concept of charismatic authority, it will contrast their forms of new sacred writing with one another to show how both had experienced encounters with the divine. The second part will then explore how different conceptualizations of revelation led to opposing concepts of religious authority, with consequences for the possibility of institution-building processes. While Smith would reify revelation in hierarchy, Emerson eventually promoted extreme spiritual individualization by rejecting the idea of an exclusive institution as the centre of revelatory authority.

Concept and types of order position: Privilege and discrimination in an institutional conception

AbstractIn this paper, I reinterpret the classic concept of order position, as well as privilege and discrimination in the concept and types of order position. In the first part of the paper, I give a short survey of the classic conception of order position, with special regard to Max Weber's concept of social status or order position. In the second part, I define the concept of order position in my conception. Accordingly, order position is the real institutional position of the given individual (or group) as compared to the institutional position that can be occupied by the given individual (or group) in the general social institutional norm system assumed on the basis of the expressed values, especially the deviation between the two positions as related to the interests of the subject. In the third part, I typify order positions from the aspect of whether the institutional norm system that is valid or realized in reality deviates or does not deviate from the assumed general norm system, and if it does, whether it deviates in a direction corresponding or contrary to the interests of the individuals. In this way, I make a distinction between privileged, normativized and degraded order positions.

MAX WEBER E OS DESCAMINHOS DA MODERNIDADE TÉCNICA

This paper investigates some ambiguities present in Max Weber's conception of modernity, especially concerning the centrality of reason as an analytical category and as a model of social practices. For this, the arguments of the text have as their starting point aconstructionist conception of modernity which argues that the sociological and philosophical theories of modernity are self-descriptions that modern thinkers have made of modernity. The discussion is also supported by the presupposition that the Weberian conception of modern rationalization is due to a certain excess of positivation of rationality over irrationality.

Constituição de carreiras inexistentes, uma leitura a partir de Max Weber

O artigo discute, à luz dos conceitos de ação social, burocracia, poder e dominação, de Max Weber, a constituição da “carreira de direção escolar” em escolas públicas de Curitiba/PR. O termo foi cunhado a partir da pesquisa sobre a escolha, por meio de consulta à comunidade escolar, das funções de direção e vice-direção das escolas. Constatou-se, a partir do resultado dos pleitos ocorridos desde 1983, que um grupo de profissionais, concursados para a docência no município, constituiu suas carreiras em função distinta àquela dos concursos que prestaram: a função diretiva das escolas. Uma vez eleitos, muitos no primeiro pleito ocorrido no Município, no início dos anos 1980, só saíram da função de direção para aposentar-se.

Thinking, Deciding, Acting: Gaps and Relations

In the first part of this essay the author points to possible gaps and relations between cognitive (thinking, reasoning, decision making) and behavioural (acting) processes. Mainstream cognitive sciences assume that thinking might result in decision making which might result in acting: i.e. cognitive processes are related to behavioural processes. Perceptual distortion, inaccurate judgment, illogical interpretation, or what is broadly called irrationality might lead to destructive behaviours on personal or societal levels. It is noted that some researchers focus on mediating/moderating factors and correlations between thinking, decision making and acting, while others focus on gaps. In the second part the author reviews the articles presented in this issue and questions as they have been discussed by others: heuristics as a method that uses principles of effort-reduction and simplification, hermeneutics of values based on Max Weber concepts, Bakhtin’s ideas on philosophy of the act and diachronic, dialogistic linguistic activities, phenomenology of solidarity implying that the acts determine experience of the world in modi ‘we’, Heidegger’s thinking, assuming the vital link between practical and ontological aspects of Heideggerian phenomenology, the evidence on theory and practice of new media and the development of concepts of creativity.

Max Weber's Concept of Legitimation in Hinduism Revisited

This paper demonstrates the continuing relevance of Weber's concept of legitimation as an intrinsic and seminal aspect of his study on the Hindu social system and processes of state formation and Hinduization. In the light of this analysis the paper questions the validity of Sheldon Pollock's recent strong critique of the concept of legitimation.

Legitimacy without Liberalism: A Defense of Max Weber’s Standard of Political Legitimacy

Abstract In this paper I defend Max Weber's concept of political legitimacy as a standard for the moral evaluation of states. On this view, a state is legitimate when its subjects regard it as having a valid claim to exercise power and authority. Weber’s analysis of legitimacy is often assumed to be merely descriptive, but I argue that Weberian legitimacy has moral significance because it indicates that political stability has been secured on the basis of civic alignment. Stability on this basis enables all the goods of peaceful cooperation with minimal state violence and intimidation, thereby guarding against alienation and tyranny. Furthermore, I argue, since Weberian legitimacy is empirically measurable in terms that avoid controversial value judgments, its adoption would bridge a longstanding divide between philosophers and social scientists

The United States as the Reluctant Ally

ABSTRACT: US leadership in NATO has been declining since the Cold War ended. From a European perspective, the United States looks more and more like a reluctant ally. A re-nationalization of European security could occur without strong US leadership. The United States should, therefore, reassert itself in European security affairs--not with costly troop contributions, but by facilitating European unity and the development of relevant force structures. ********** Since its creation in 1949, NATO has been the most important alliance for America. US engagement and leadership in NATO has, however, been declining since the Cold War ended; this has been especially true during the Obama administration and in particular since the Libya War in 2011. In general, Obama's administration has engaged less in international security affairs; the strategic rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific has definitely moved the US focus from Europe to that region. (1) Although the US government plans to send more troops to Europe during 2017 and takes Russian aggression seriously, military operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria have moved Washington's focus from Ukraine and Russia to the Middle East. In addition, the appetite for supporting Europe among US politicians and the American public seems to have declined. From a European perspective, the United States looks more and more like a reluctant ally, a characterization normally used by Washington to describe some of NATO's allies during the Cold War. (2) How does this reluctance manifest itself? What might it lead to? How should the United States act to facilitate more security in the transatlantic region without increasing the costs for American taxpayers? A re-nationalization or division of European defense and security is likely to occur without strong US leadership, and that will probably lead to a stronger Russian influence in European affairs which is clearly not in Washington's interest. The United States should, therefore, regain its leading role in European security affairs--not with massive troop contributions, as in the Cold War, but with strong and firm leadership that can facilitate European unity and help to create relevant force structures capable of defending Europe and contributing to its security. NATO's Declining Role in US Grand Strategy During the Cold War, Europe had a major role in US grand strategy and the United States led NATO with a firm hand. There was never any doubt the United States was the primus inter pares in European security affairs. To borrow Max Weber's concept, Washington led NATO in a charismatic way. (3) That has changed however. Even the Ukraine Crisis failed to make Europe a major player in US grand strategy. For example, in his comprehensive speech about the US foreign policy agenda for 2016 at the National Defense University (NDU) in January 2016, Secretary of State John Kerry, used just one sentence to describe the situation in Europe, and in that sentence he mentioned NATO once. (4) The demonstration of Europe's decreased importance in US security policy was not new. When Robert Gates gave his last major speech as Secretary of Defense he criticized NATO for being a two-tiered alliance, for having a dim, if not dismal future, and said future US political leaders may not consider the return on America's investment in NATO worth the cost. (5) Gates' view of NATO meetings was they were excruciatingly boring, and he had to do crossword puzzles to stay awake. (6) The Obama administration's decline in interest in Europe compared to other regions and the reluctance to lead NATO in traditional ways have been demonstrated over and over again, especially since the Libyan War in 2011. (7) That war caused a comprehensive discussion in the United States about burden-sharing in NATO between the United States and Europe, and especially who should take the lead in such an operation. …

An Interpretation of Xunzi and Machiavelli in the Light of Max Weber's Concepts of the Ethics of Action

An Interpretation of Xunzi and Machiavelli in the Light of Max Weber's Concepts of the Ethics of Action