1
PhD student in history, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
2
PhD in Political Sociology, Islamic Azad University, Qom
10.22098/cpa.2025.16827.1062
Abstract
Barrington Moore is regarded as a distinguished scholar in the field of historical modernization within development studies. His research methodology follows a comparative-historical approach, emphasizing macro-structural analysis in the historical transition of human societies. By selecting a broad range of geographical regions and comparing empirical data with theoretical frameworks, he presents a comprehensive and generalizable model. This article critically examines Moore’s theory on the social origins of dictatorship and democracy. The findings indicate that Moore highlights the role of class interactions, economic systems, and the commercialization of agriculture in shaping political outcomes, particularly emphasizing the bourgeoisie’s significance in the democratic development process. Rather than identifying singular causal factors for modernization pathways, he asserts that each social structure follows its own distinct pattern. On one hand, he analyzes the behavior of groups and classes during civil wars and revolutions based on their perceptions of material and moral interests. On the other hand, he examines causal relationships between past structural trends and social transformation processes. At the same time, Moore primarily focuses on internal societal factors, particularly the nature of class relations.
Naderi, M. H. and Nouri, M. (2025). A Comparative-Historical Study of Barrington Moore's Theory: The Social and Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy. Comparative Public Administration, 2(4), -. doi: 10.22098/cpa.2025.16827.1062
MLA
Naderi, M. H. , and Nouri, M. . "A Comparative-Historical Study of Barrington Moore's Theory: The Social and Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy", Comparative Public Administration, 2, 4, 2025, -. doi: 10.22098/cpa.2025.16827.1062
HARVARD
Naderi, M. H., Nouri, M. (2025). 'A Comparative-Historical Study of Barrington Moore's Theory: The Social and Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy', Comparative Public Administration, 2(4), pp. -. doi: 10.22098/cpa.2025.16827.1062
CHICAGO
M. H. Naderi and M. Nouri, "A Comparative-Historical Study of Barrington Moore's Theory: The Social and Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy," Comparative Public Administration, 2 4 (2025): -, doi: 10.22098/cpa.2025.16827.1062
VANCOUVER
Naderi, M. H., Nouri, M. A Comparative-Historical Study of Barrington Moore's Theory: The Social and Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy. Comparative Public Administration, 2025; 2(4): -. doi: 10.22098/cpa.2025.16827.1062
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