Weber — Protestant ethic
Max Weber's influential thesis that Protestant religious beliefs (especially Calvinism) created cultural values (hard work, thrift, self-discipline) that enabled capitalism's development.
Real World
The Quaker founders of Cadbury and Barclays Bank in 19th-century Britain exemplify Weber's thesis: their Protestant faith drove disciplined work, reinvestment of profits, and moral business conduct that built industrial capitalism.
Exam Focus
Contrast Weber with Marx directly — Weber sees religion as a cause of capitalism, Marx sees it as a consequence; examiners reward this comparison.
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