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National Value Differences

Modernization or Institutionalization?

Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen, 22 Lionesgade, DK-1361 Copenhagen, K., Denmark

All research shows substantial between-country differences in values. How can these be explained? This article argues that a social institution's approach is more effective than the often- used modernization theory to explain value differences among countries. The analysis is based on European data from the European Values Study Group's surveys in 1990. It is shown that familism is best explained by examining particular denominations, that dominate a country. Welfare-state values are explained by the character of the welfare state and nationalistic values by the heterogeneity of the nation. The result is a picture of fragmentation of values among the European countries based on fundamental institutional arrangements in the various countries, the conclusion being that it cannot be expected that it is possible to create common European values.

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