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

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  • Michael Minkov

    (International University College)

  • Geert Hofstede

    (University of Maastricht)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Minkov & Geert Hofstede, 2014. "Nations Versus Religions: Which Has a Stronger Effect on Societal Values?," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(6), pages 801-824, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:manint:v:54:y:2014:i:6:d:10.1007_s11575-014-0205-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11575-014-0205-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Mark F. Peterson & Mikael Søndergaard, 2014. "Countries, Within-Country Regions, and Multiple-Country Regions in International Management: A Functional, Institutional, and Critical Event (FICE) Perspective," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(6), pages 781-800, December.
    3. Mark F Peterson & Mikael Søndergaard & Aycan Kara, 2018. "Traversing cultural boundaries in IB: The complex relationships between explicit country and implicit cultural group boundaries at multiple levels," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(8), pages 1081-1099, October.
    4. Tausch, Arno, 2017. "Practicing Catholics and their attitudes on homosexuality. Comparative analyses, based on recent World Values Survey data," MPRA Paper 82681, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. P. Baba Gnanakumar, 2020. "Reinforcement of Brands Inspired by Faith with the Paradox of Cultural Divergence in Indian FMCG Market," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 9(1), pages 96-107, January.
    6. Hamid Yeganeh, 2024. "Conceptualizing the Patterns of Change in Cultural Values: The Paradoxical Effects of Modernization, Demographics, and Globalization," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Tausch, Arno, 2017. "Are practicing Catholics more tolerant of other religions than the rest of the world? Comparative analyses based on World Values Survey data," MPRA Paper 82843, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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