Max Webber

A German sociologist, philosopher, political economist, and Jurist, Maximilian Karl Emil Max
Weber came in this world on the 21 st of April 1864 and took his last breath on the 14 th of June
1920. He is also known as Max Weber. He was said to be an influencer and his ideas caused
many social theories and social research. Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber are said
to be the three founders of Sociology.

Iron cage
Max Weber’s concept of the ‘iron cage’ is even more relevant today than when he first wrote
about it in 1905. Weber explained that as the force of Protestantism decreased in social life over
time, the system of capitalism remained, as did the social structure and principles of bureaucracy
that had grown along with it. This bureaucratic social structure, and the values, beliefs, and
worldviews that supported and sustained it, and the technological and economic relationship that
grew out of capitalist production, became the main forces to shaping social life. It was this very
phenomenon that Weber called an ‘iron cage’. Even today the iron cage made up of techno-
rational thought, practices, capitalism and economic relationship shows no sign of disintegrating
anytime soon. The problems such as climate change are unable to be addressed because of the
influence of the iron cage that constrains our thought and behavior i.e. we focus on technology
but less on climate because of the result of iron cage made up of techno-rational thought that
emphasizes development in technology and capitalism.
E.g. if you are born into a society organized this way, with the division of labor and hierarchical
social structure (as in bureaucracy) that comes with it, you can’t escape from it and have to live
within this system. Similarly, a person’s life and worldview are shaped by these to such an extent
that he/she probably can’t even imagine an alternative or different way of life. So, those born
into the cage live in the way it is dictated and consequently reproduce the cage continuously. For
this reason, Weber considered the iron cage a massive hindrance to freedom.

Max weber on social stratification

One of the finest German Sociologist Max Weber, since Marx has given us the most important
progress in stratification theories. The similarities and differences of the approaches will become
apparent as Weber’s ideas are examined. Weber assumes or looks class as the field of
economics. He says that to have economic gains one has to develop their class in market
economics and compete with each other. he explains according to him a class or group of people
who have same positions in the market economy and therefore enjoy same rewards. Thus
Weber’s terminology A person’s class situation is also basically his market situation. Those who
share a similar class situation also share similar life chances not very keen on the position will
directly affect their chances of obtaining those things defined as desirable in their society, for
example, access to higher education and good quality housing
Weber argues that the major class division is between those who own the forces of production
and those who do not get paid for those who have substantial property holdings will receive the
highest economic rewards and enjoy superior life chances, however, Weber sees important
differences in the market situation of propertyless groups in society. Each profession requires
different skills and services that is why they have different market values and each occupation
provides differently. For instance, in a capitalist society professionals like bankers, engineers,
managers everyone with different occupation receives comparatively high salaries because they
provide different services and requires different skills. Weber shares how in capitalist society
class groupings are done:
 The propertied upper class
 The propertyless white-collar workers
 The petty bourgeoisie
 The manual working class
1. Weber discusses class he firstly discuss, it is important to understand the significance of
others elements in comparison to property ownership or non-ownership to better
formulate the classes. The market value of these skilled propertyless workers differs and
which causes differences in economic return which later plays a significant role in
producing different social classes.
2. Secondly, Weber witnessed there is nothing to support or no evidence to support the
polarization of classes. Although he sees some decline in the number of the petty
bourgeoisie, the small property owners due to complications from large companies he
argues that they enter in the white-collar or skilled manual trades rather than being
depressed into the ranks of unskilled manual workers. One of the important things he
says is that the middle-class who are white collared are expanding rather than contracting
 as capitalism. He believes in the society of modern nation-state and capitalist
corporations to make it function, it requires a large number of administrators which have
rational bureaucratic administration.
3. Thirdly, Weber rejects the view held by some Marxists of the inevitability of the
proletarian revolution. He says that there is no reason to support the same classical view
that means it doesn’t necessarily be a known shared interests, common identity, and the
aggregate actions of those of group interested. Lastly, Weber disagrees with Marxian’s
perspective that economic power doesn’t take place from political powers. According to
Weber class division is not caused due to unequal distribution of power in society.
Weber after his research states that no theory alone of status groups, classes, and parties can
explain and show their relationship. The formation of a social group is a complicated and
different process that requires cooperation among different elements such as class, party, and
status. Hence each must be looked after carefully in society, during the specific time period.
Therefore Weber explains that the evidence displays a picture that is more complex and
diversified in social stratification.

Max Weber on Poverty

Weber argues that an individual‘s class situation is dependent upon his market situation on the
amount of power he has to influence the workings of the market in his favor and on the rewards
his skill and expertise can come on in a competitive market, from this perspective groups such as
the aged, the chronically sick, and single-parent families have little power in the market and
therefore receive little reward. Indeed their circumstances largely prevent them from competing
in the market. However, not all members of these groups are and this is preferable to their market
situation prior to the present circumstances. The poverty of the old, sick, handicapped and single-
parent families is largely working-class poverty. members of other societies have sufficient
income to save got invest in pension schemes, insurance policy and in the shareholdings for
themselves and their dependents and so guard against the threat of poverty due to the death of the
breadwinner, sickness or old age, in this sense social class rather than personal disability
inadequacy or misfortune accounts for poverty.
Max Weber on Bureaucracy and Rationalization:
Max Weber believed that bureaucratic organizations are the dominant institutions of industrial
society. He viewed the organization that has a hierarchy of reward that has full-time
professionals sending lines of commands. A bureaucracy is concerned with the business of an
Administration, with controlling, managing, and coordinating a complex series of tasks.
Bureaucratic organizations are increasingly dominating the institutional landscape.  Departments
of State, political parties, business enterprises, the military, education and churches and all
organized on bureaucratic lines. Understanding the importance of bureaucratization is very
essential to understand and appreciate modern society. Weber isn’t sure of bureaucracy as an
organization. He thinks bureaucracy is superior in terms of technical aspects compare to other
organizations. He also says that to function in large-scale industries bureaucracy is vital as it
helps them to function smoothly and in an organized matter. He also saw it has a threat to
governmental powers but it can be overcome by stronger political or governmental controls.

Connection between Culture (i.e. Religion) and Economy

In his best-known book ‘The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,1905, Weber
examined the impact of Protestantism on Western thinking and culture. In this book, Weber tried
to understand why some countries were more able than others to build strong, capitalist
economies. He theorized that religion was the key to this issue. He argued that Protestantism i.e.
protestant work ethic and belief in living life frugally (saving by not spending much
unnecessarily) helped foster the development of the capitalist economic system in the Western
world which means that it is the Protestant religious values that boost capitalism. But in Eastern
religions, Weber saw barriers to capitalism. For example, Hinduism stresses attaining higher
levels of spirituality by escaping from the trap of the mundane materialistic world. Such a
perspective constrains people from making money (or capital accumulation).

Max Weber on Religion and Social Change

From Max Weber’s perspective, he rejects The view that religion is always shaped by economic
factors. He does not deny that at certain times and in certain places, the religious behavior may
be largely shaped by economic forces, but he maintains that this is not always the case. Under
certain conditions that reverse can occur is religious beliefs can be a major influence on
economic behavior.
Weber looked after the relationship between the specific forms of Protestantism and the progress
or development of Western industrial capitalism. He argues that the essence of capitalism is the
pursuit of profit forever renewed profit.
Weber then talks about the rise of ascetic Protestantism which he maintains preceded the
development of Western capitalism. He looks at a number of Protestant religions particularly
Calvinism which developed in seventeenth-century Western Europe.
Weber claims that ascetic Protestantism ethic, a religiously based moral orientation towards the
world, was an important factor in the development of the spirit of capitalism. In turn, the spirit of
capitalism directed the practice of capitalism. Weber does not claim that ascetic Protestantism
caused capitalism. He argues that many other factors were involved. However, Weber maintains
that ascetic Protestantism had an important influence on the origin and development of
capitalism in Western Europe.
Weber’s views on the relationship between religion and capitalism have generated a large body
of research. Historians such as Tawney and Trevor Roper have produced modifications of and
alternatives to Weber’s theory and much more.

Religion, Sects, and change:

Max Weber argues that sects are most likely to arise within groups that are marginal in society.
Members of groups outside the mainstream of social life often feel they are not receiving either
the prestige or the economic rewards they deserve. One solution to this problem is a sect based
on what Weber calls a ‘theodicy of disprivilege’ such sects contain an explanation for the
disprivilege of their members and promise them a sense of honor. Either in the afterlife or in the
future in the new world on earth.
Weber saw sociology as a study of social action. He focused on humans’ subjective meanings of
their activities within their socio-historical contexts.

Theory of Social Action

The social action theory was founded by Max Weber. According to this theory, “an action is
social if the acting individual takes account of the behavior of others and is thereby oriented in
its course”. Max Weber defined sociology as a ‘science of social action’. Weber had the idea that
society could only be studied by looking at the meaning its members assign to social actions in
their interactions within specific socio-historical contexts.
Four ideal types of social action:
 Beweckrational    – end rational
 Wertrational         – value-oriented rational action
 Traditional action – least logic
 Affective action    – due to emotion
A Wertrational action is oriented towards a goal or value defined by society and not by the actor.
The action taken by an individual actor is to fulfill such a value-defined societal goal. Action is
rational. Thus, understanding wertrational action helps us know what a society values. A soldier
sacrificing his life while fighting the enemy shows society values like nationalization, patriotism,
courage and bravery as desired values.
Merton’s deviance shows that economic and material success values are essential in American
society and even corruption crimes are wertrational actions to attain the goal. Similarly, suicide
was a wertrational action among the Samurai is of Japan after a defeat, as pride and honour were
valued. Thus, understanding wertrational actions can help us identify reforms needed in the value
system and introduce desirable values. The emphasis on values as an end thus necessitates
correct values.