The application of Inglehart’s materialism/postmaterialism index in non-industrialised countries: a critique

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Date
2004
Authors
Müller, Hans
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English:This article makes three central claims. The first is that the operationalisation of Ronald Inglehart’s “materialist/postmaterialist dimension” cannot be transported unchanged from the industrialised western context of its origin to the non-industrialised world. The second claim is that an important dimension of the current values analysis strategy of Taylor, Kotzé and others in South Africa is theoretically incoherent. These theorists expanded Inglehart’s dimension to include a “pre-materialist” cluster of values in order to deal with values which they find important but which are not covered in the materialist/postmaterialist dimension. However, this is intended to be a universal dimension and cannot be adapted in this way. The third claim is that one can learn much from the South African attempt to adapt the materialist/postmaterialist dimension. In fact, it points to the need for an analytical strategy appropriate to the socio-economic conditions of developing nations. Both minimal and more comprehensive changes are proposed.
Afrikaans: Hierdie artikel maak drie aansprake. Die eerste is dat die operasionalisering van Ronald Inglehart se “materialisme/postmaterialisme-indeks” nie ongewysig uit die ontwikkelde westerse konteks van oorsprong na die onontwikkelde wêreld oorgedra kan word nie. Tweedens word betoog dat die huidige waarde-analise-strategie van Taylor, Kotzé en ander in Suid-Afrika teoreties onsamehangend is. Hulle het die “materialisme/postmaterialisme-indeks” uitgebrei om ’n pre-materialisme waardegroepering in te sluit om waardes te verreken wat volgens hulle nie ingesluit kan word onder die materialisme/ postmaterialisme-dimensie nie. Die materialisme/postmaterialisme-dimensie is bedoel om ’n universele dimensie te wees en kan nie op hierdie wyse aangepas word nie. Die derde aanspraak is dat daar heelwat geleer kan word uit die Suid-Afrikaanse poging om die materialisme/postmaterialisme-indeks aan te pas. Hierdie Suid-Afrikaanse aanpassing dui in der waarheid op die noodsaak van ’n analitiese strategie wat toepaslik is vir die sosio-ekonomiese toestande van ontwikkelende lande. Sowel geringe as meer omvattende verandering word voorgestel.
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Keywords
Inglehart, Ronald, Postmodernisation, Modernisation, “Materialist/postmaterialist dimension, Non-industrialised countries
Citation
Müller, H. (2004). The application of Inglehart's materialism/postmaterialism index in non-industrialised countries: a critique. Acta Academica, 36(1), 127-156.