Value patterns in Europe and the United States: is there a transatlantic rift?

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

Authors

We examine empirical evidence for a widespread stereotypical assumption: the alleged cultural rift between Europe and the US. With respect to individualistic values emphasizing human self-expression, we find little division between Western Europe and North America. Rather, they are mostly unified as the individualistic, liberal and democratic West against the ‘rest’ of the world. By contrast, we observe a massive transatlantic separation regarding community norms. Despite internal divisions, the US is on average considerably more religious, rigid, and absolute in its moral values than any society of continental Western Europe. Moral value rigidity is not a reflection of ‘American ...
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConflicts and tensions
EditorsHelmut K. Anheier, Yudhishthir Raj Isar
Number of pages12
Place of PublicationLos Angeles [u.a.]
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc.
Publication date01.01.2007
Pages241-252
ISBN (print)9781412934718, 9781412934725
ISBN (electronic)9781446214671
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.01.2007
Externally publishedYes