Laws of History: Economic Determinism

Harry Papasotiriou says: "While many political and social phenomena can be explained in terms of economic determinants, I would like to point to two alternative lines of argument. First, culture and religion may be a determinant of economics, as Max Weber famously argued regarding capitalism and the Protestant ethic. A more recent example might be the fact that in the last few decades East Asia did much better economically than the Muslim world (Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea were among the poorest countries in the world in the 1950s). Second, warfare and international competition is also a major determinant of economic, social and political phenomena, according to the historian William McNeill, among others. The ancient Greek philosopher Heracletus stated that war is the midwife of everything. For example, the rise of the sovereign states system, which was the necessary political framework for industrialization in the past few centuries, resulted from European warfare during the period from the 15th to the 19th century, according to Tilly et al in The Formation of the National State in Europe, among others". RH: Is Islamic belief in fatalism a brake on progress? William H. McNeill, Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Chicago, is an extraordinarily prolific writer: His most recent book, with his son J. R. McNeill, is The Human Web. (April 2004) #End --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.672 / Virus Database: 434 - Release Date: 4/28/2004 -=x=- Skontrolované antivírovým programom NOD32