Inglehart's Values Change Theory-Criticism And Defense

Ronald Inglehart's values change theory is a classic study of political and cultural,he suggests that along with economic developmeni,people's survival have been no problem,which makes it a shift in values priorities between older generations and the younger generations,the values of the former pay more attention to the safety and survival of material conditions,while the latter is more emphasis on quality of life,that is " materialism " values gradually transformed into "post-materialist " values.Inglehart's theory has made remarkable achievements,but also accompanied by a lot of criticism and doubt.Harold D.Clark and Nitish Dutt had questioned whether such values change really happens,they think only a matter of research methods that led to changes in the values;Raymond M.Duch and Michaell A.Taylor questioned Inglehart's the causes of values change,they do not consider the economic factors leading to the transformation of values,do not agree that the early socialization theory of economic conditions determine human values,they think of education as well as economic conditions during the investigation have a significant impact on people,s priority values;Scott C,Flanagan,who criticized the materialism/post-materialist theory does not grasp the key of Western values change,it is not valid;additional,Inglehrart's measurement method also raises many questions,such as Clive Bean and Elim Papadakis,who was considerable discussion on the ranking and rating;while James A.Davies questioned the 12 items,he believes,Inglehart did not put the unemployment rate into the measurement is a major mistakes;Some others question the effect of changes in the values,Robert W.Jackman and Ross A.Miller,Savage and others critic that Inglehart exaggerated the role of political culture,without systems of coordination,post-material values does not automatically lead to the birth of democracy and make it stable.Finally,I will make some of criticisms and defend Comment.1 Believe that values change indeed taking place,but its impact needs further observation.