Lawrence Harrison (academic)

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Lawrence Harrison, Image by Katie Makri
Lawrence Harrison

Lawrence E. Harrison (March 11, 1932 - December 9, 2015) was an American scholar known for his work on international development and being former

Fletcher School, Tufts University, where he also served as an adjunct lecturer.[1] He is the author of various books and articles, most notably his work with Samuel P. Huntington, Culture Matters.[2]

His work was cited thousands of times in books, journals, and other academic works.[3] He was also noted as an influence on USAID's policies.[4] His views created considerable disputes with some, such as Professor Noam Chomsky.[5]

He died December 9, 2015, at the University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Greece.[6]

Ideas

Harrison's main thesis is that culture is the dominant factor affecting progress and development of groups and nations.[7] While economic, historical, and geographical factors are relevant, Harrison suggests what ultimately determines whether a given group will enjoy economic prosperity in a free society is its cultural values.[8][9] Religious beliefs and other systems of values will greatly affect the development of a given nation, which explains, in his view, the lasting underdevelopment of nations like Haiti.[10]

Selected bibliography

  • Jews, Confucians, and Protestants: Cultural Capital, and the End of Multiculturalism (2012)
  • The Central Liberal Truth: How Politics Can Change a Culture and Save It from Itself (2006)
  • Developing Cultures: Essays On Cultural Change (co-editor with Jerome Kagan) (2006)
  • Culture Matters--How Values Shape Human Progress (co-editor with Samuel P. Huntington) (2000)
  • The Pan-American Dream (1997)
  • Who Prospers? How Cultural Values Shape Economic and Political Success (1992)
  • Underdevelopment is a State of Mind--The Latin American Case (1985)

References

  1. ISSN 0458-3035
    . Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  2. doi:10.7771/1481-4374.1184
    .
  3. ^ "author:lawrence author:e author:harrison - Google Scholar". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  4. ^ "USAID Private Sector Programs: An Overview" (PDF). USAID Alumni.
  5. ^ "Democracy Enhancement". chomsky.info. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  6. ^ http://www.dartmouth.org/classes/53/archives/pdf54.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  7. ISBN 978-0-313-31910-5
    .
  8. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  9. ISBN 978-0-275-97510-4
    .
  10. ^ Peretz, Martin (2010-02-08). "Voodoo, Development and the Culture of Haiti". The New Republic. Retrieved 2015-11-20.

External links

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