Nations Versus Religions: Which Has a Stronger Effect on Societal Values?

Michael Minkov () and Geert Hofstede
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Michael Minkov: International University College
Geert Hofstede: University of Maastricht

Management International Review, 2014, vol. 54, issue 6, No 2, 824 pages

Abstract: Abstract The World Values Survey allows a comparison of the relative contribution of nations versus global religions on the cultural values of nations and in-country religious groups. We analyzed the answers to 16 questions from 2005–2008 about personal values and values for children at the level of 121 in-country religious groups from 56 nations. We found that the national influence is much stronger than the influence of global religions. This results in nationally homogeneous and statistically distinguishable clusters of nominally different in-country religious groups. Global religions do not have a similar effect: their in-country variants do not group together to form homogeneous and statistically distinguishable religious clusters that cut across nations. Our study shows that, with respect to values, a shared national history is a potent cultural factor, whereas a globally shared religion is not. This is true even in recently formed nations such as those of sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: National culture; Values; Religion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11575-014-0205-8

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