Ronald F. Inglehart (September 24, 1934 – May 8, 2021) was an American political scientist and professor emeritus at the University of Michigan, where he was also a research professor at the Institute for Social Research. He was a highly influential figure in the fields of comparative politics, political culture, and social change, best known for his theories of post-materialism and cultural modernization, as well as for founding and directing the World Values Survey (WVS).
Early Life and Education Inglehart earned his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1967. His academic career was primarily spent at the University of Michigan, where he taught for over five decades.
Key Contributions and Theories
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Post-Materialism: Inglehart's seminal work, The Silent Revolution (1977), introduced the concept of "post-materialism." This theory posits that as societies experience sustained economic prosperity and physical security, the younger generations shift their values from prioritizing material needs (like economic and physical security) to prioritizing "post-materialist" values (such as self-expression, quality of life, environmental protection, and individual freedom). This value shift, he argued, has significant implications for political behavior, social movements, and the stability of democratic institutions.
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World Values Survey (WVS): Inglehart was the founding principal investigator of the World Values Survey, a global research project that explores people's values and beliefs, how they change over time, and what impact they have on social and political life. Initiated in 1981, the WVS has conducted surveys in nearly 100 countries, encompassing almost 90 percent of the world's population, making it the largest non-commercial, cross-national survey research project in the world. The data collected by the WVS has been instrumental in testing and refining Inglehart's theories and has been widely used by researchers across various social sciences.
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Cultural Modernization Theory: Building on his work with the WVS, Inglehart developed a comprehensive theory of cultural modernization, often in collaboration with Christian Welzel. This theory argues that economic development systematically transforms societies' cultures, leading to a shift from traditional values (emphasizing religion, family authority, and national identity) towards secular-rational values. Further development, particularly in advanced industrial societies, fosters a shift from survival values (stressing economic and physical security) towards self-expression values (prioritizing individual autonomy, gender equality, and democratic participation). Inglehart contended that these cultural shifts are strongly linked to the emergence and consolidation of democracy, social well-being, and gender equality. He challenged the "clash of civilizations" thesis by demonstrating that despite cultural differences, there are broad, predictable patterns of cultural change driven by modernization.
Major Works Among his many influential publications are:
- The Silent Revolution: Changing Values and Political Styles Among Western Publics (1977)
- Culture Shift in Advanced Industrial Society (1990)
- Modernization and Postmodernization: Cultural, Economic, and Political Change in 43 Societies (1997)
- Rising Tide: Gender Equality and Cultural Change Around the World (with Pippa Norris, 2003)
- Sacred and Secular: Religion and Politics Worldwide (with Pippa Norris, 2004)
- Cultural Evolution: People’s Motivations are Changing, and Reshaping the World (2018)
Legacy Ronald Inglehart's work profoundly influenced political science, sociology, and economics. His theories provided a powerful framework for understanding the interplay between economic development, cultural values, and political systems. The World Values Survey, his enduring legacy, continues to be an indispensable resource for comparative research on human values and societal change globally.