Is fatalism a cultural belief? An empirical analysis on the origin of fatalistic tendencies

Gabriele Ruiu

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: I maintain that fatalistic tendencies are the output of the interaction between cultural factors (and in particular of religious beliefs) and historical Institutional experience. Using WVS data this idea has been tested against two well known sociological theories on the origin of fatalism: Weberian cosmological fatalism and Durkheim’s structural fatalism. The data supports the Durkheimian idea that a more regulated society tends to be also more fatalistic. Also the direct effect of religion on fatalistic beliefs seem to be an important element determining fatalistic tendencies. However there are not large differences across the various faiths. In other terms, being religious independently from the religious affiliation implies a more fatalistic view of life.

Keywords: Culture; fatalism; institutions; religion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z1 Z12 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-07-16
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe and nep-cul
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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