SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Max Weber, China and the Spirit of Capitalism

Image by Werner Gephart portraying Qiu Jin and Max Weber

Max Weber is not only celebrated as a founder of modern social science but also for his view that modern capitalism was the achievement of a uniquely Western rationalism. His celebrated study of China argued that its legal institutions and ethical and religious culture had prevented a similar development there. But he also drew on his knowledge of China in developing his ideas of bureaucracy, authority and legitimacy.

The economic success of China over the last thirty years represents for some the biggest challenge yet to Weber's account of its culture, to his theory of capitalism and to the methods he employed in arriving at his account. But it also brings into question the self-image of the West and the idea of modernity. The conference we are announcing will bring scholars from the social sciences and humanities together in a West/East dialogue central both to mutual understanding between China and the West and also to an exploration of the possible varieties of capitalism.

Call for Papers

Members of the Max Weber Study Group of the British Sociological Association (BSA) and members of the China in Comparative Perspective Network (CCPN) at the LSE together with SOAS, University of London have formed a Programme Committee which makes this Call for Papers and invites proposals in the form of an abstract of a paper which should be submitted before March 1st 2013 using the online form.

The language of the conference will be English but abstracts may be in English or German. Abstracts in Chinese may be submitted with an English translation. They can be empirical or theoretical and have a methodological, historical, comparative or contemporary focus. The conference will have panels and streams with at least one each on culture, law and capitalism but contributions for a general stream will also be welcome.

Paper Submission

Please click the link to complete the online submission form with abstract (250 words), or download the PDF form and send your completed form to: weberchinaconf@gmail.com

• Deadline for submission:  31st March 2013
• Notification of acceptance: 30 April 2013

Programme Committee:

• Martin Albrow, Chair (Bonn)
• John Breuilly (LSE)
• Ernest Caldwell (SOAS)
• Xiangqun Chang (LSE and SOAS)
• Kent Deng (LSE)
• Carlos Frade (Salford)
• Athena Leoussi (Reading)
• Julia Strauss (SOAS)

Registration

Registration is required of all participants.

Registration fee includes attendance at the conference, tea/coffee/water breaks and light lunch. Conference packs will include final programme, name badge and SOAS bag.  

Fees

*Students must show a valid student ID card on the day.

Online registration will open on this web page in due course.