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Revolutions, Samurai, and Reductons: The Parodoxes of Change and Continuity in Iran and Japan
Author(s) -
Moghaddam Fathali M.,
Crystal David S.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
political psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.419
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1467-9221
pISSN - 0162-895X
DOI - 10.1111/0162-895x.00061
Subject(s) - diversity (politics) , macro , politics , sociology , social change , macro level , focus (optics) , cultural diversity , political science , political economy , gender studies , development economics , positive economics , economic system , economics , law , anthropology , physics , optics , computer science , programming language
This paper assesses policies for managing cultural diversity in Iran and Japan, with particular focus on the treatment of women as a cultural minority. Following social reducton theory, the distinction between rates of cultural change at macro‐ and microlevels is highlighted. It is argued that macro political and economic changes have taken place fairly rapidly, but micro changes in everyday social practices have changed much more slowly. The latter, it is argued, are structured by social reducton systems, which can act to slow down societal change. This insight is used to cast light on the situation of women and other minorities in North America.