Lecture 1 – Understanding National Cultures
- Modern society has a culture of national identity with many things personifying this.
- Things that illustrate this are:
o National institutions like the police/law/fire services
o Technology
o The Welfare State
o The relentless search for new and better ways of life
- This then breeds the notion of a ‘Nation State’.
- It is all underpinned by the common theme which is capitalism
Marx on capitalism and the modern state:
- Had a certain admiration for capitalism as he understood that it changed the world massively during the industrial revolution.
- He understood that they didn’t just make money but also made things work like the rail system and modern day machinery etc.
- Marx was very much the modernist and recognised change as it occurred.
- Said there was certain schizophrenia in Victorian architecture with one head looking forward and one looking back. For instance the houses of parliament with its medieval roots and crystal palace with its disposable, modern and never seen before look.
- With new technological advances architects are replaced by engineers.
Weber on Modernity:
- Believed that modern society was made up by various paradoxes and dynamics.
- I.e. rationalisation processes run alongside some non rational elements.
- Capitalism alongside religious beliefs.
- Science with human faith and blind beliefs.
- Culture of beaurocracy along with human charisma tradition and personality.
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