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

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  • Ruiu, Gabriele

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruiu, Gabriele, 2012. "Is fatalism a cultural belief? An empirical analysis on the origin of fatalistic tendencies," MPRA Paper 41705, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:41705
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    Cited by:

    1. Tamar CHKHAIDZE & Dimitri CHUBINIDZE & Elisabed GEGENAVA, 2019. "Fatalism €“ Georgian Cultural Model," Prizren Social Science Journal, SHIKS, vol. 3(3), pages 41-52, December.
    2. Ludek Kouba & Hans Pitlik, 2014. "I wanna live my life: Locus of Control and Support for the Welfare State," MENDELU Working Papers in Business and Economics 2014-46, Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Business and Economics.
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    4. Hans Pitlik & Ludek Kouba, 2013. "The Interrelation of Informal Institutions and Governance Quality in Shaping Welfare State Attitudes. WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 38," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 46924, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Culture; fatalism; institutions; religion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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