scholarly journals Industry, Thrift and Divine Reward: an Examination of the Ideology and Theology of Work in New Zealand (1840-1992)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Philippa Kathryn Horrex
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Work Ethic ◽  
Max Weber ◽  
Economic Restructuring ◽  
Public Servants ◽  
Capitalist System ◽  
The Great Depression ◽  
Theology Of Work ◽  
The People ◽  
The Protestant Work Ethic

<p>This study of the ideology and theology of work in New Zealand 1840 - 1992, is in response to political statements in 1991 regarding the lack of a work ethic in New Zealand. The concept of the Protestant work ethic as advanced by Max Weber is explored as a background supposition, and is augmented by an examination of the Victorian "gospel of work" which, it is argued, was the basis of the work ethic in New Zealand. Three time periods are explored within New Zealand history illustrating the contemporary work ideology among the politicians and the people, and reflecting on the churches' position in terms of work theology or ethics. The specific times examined in detail are the early colonial years (1840-1900), the Great Depression of the 1930s, and the period of the major restructuring of the New Zealand economy (1984-92). In each instance secular sources are explored, and some church records are examined, in particular those of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. A detailed survey undertaken in 1991 of a group of public servants who were at the centre of much of the Government's economic restructuring (1984-92), is taken as evidence of the existence of a work ethic ideology among a middle class professional group. The opinion is given that church in New Zealand has evolved from initially supporting the Victorian work ethic ideology of the capitalist system, to questioning its relevance in the late twentieth century but has contributed little to a contemporary theology of work. The conclusion is reached that historically New Zealanders have displayed a work ethic ideology which has been encouraged by the politicians.</p>

scholarly journals Industry, Thrift and Divine Reward: an Examination of the Ideology and Theology of Work in New Zealand (1840-1992)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Philippa Kathryn Horrex
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Work Ethic ◽  
Max Weber ◽  
Economic Restructuring ◽  
Public Servants ◽  
Capitalist System ◽  
The Great Depression ◽  
Theology Of Work ◽  
The People ◽  
The Protestant Work Ethic

<p>This study of the ideology and theology of work in New Zealand 1840 - 1992, is in response to political statements in 1991 regarding the lack of a work ethic in New Zealand. The concept of the Protestant work ethic as advanced by Max Weber is explored as a background supposition, and is augmented by an examination of the Victorian "gospel of work" which, it is argued, was the basis of the work ethic in New Zealand. Three time periods are explored within New Zealand history illustrating the contemporary work ideology among the politicians and the people, and reflecting on the churches' position in terms of work theology or ethics. The specific times examined in detail are the early colonial years (1840-1900), the Great Depression of the 1930s, and the period of the major restructuring of the New Zealand economy (1984-92). In each instance secular sources are explored, and some church records are examined, in particular those of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. A detailed survey undertaken in 1991 of a group of public servants who were at the centre of much of the Government's economic restructuring (1984-92), is taken as evidence of the existence of a work ethic ideology among a middle class professional group. The opinion is given that church in New Zealand has evolved from initially supporting the Victorian work ethic ideology of the capitalist system, to questioning its relevance in the late twentieth century but has contributed little to a contemporary theology of work. The conclusion is reached that historically New Zealanders have displayed a work ethic ideology which has been encouraged by the politicians.</p>

Unemployment and fraud during the Great Depression in New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Radiah Othman ◽  
Rashid Ameer
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Great Depression ◽  
Extreme Condition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Great Depression ◽  
The People ◽  
Financial Crimes ◽  
The Unemployed ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
New Zealanders

Purpose This paper aims to provide a historical understanding of the unemployment context experienced by the New Zealand population during the Great Depression, which might have caused people to commit financial crimes, such as fraud, to survive. Design/methodology/approach The main source of information is narratives from newspaper articles published by 42 newspapers from 1931 to 1950 that explore New Zealanders’ experiences during declined economic conditions. Findings During the period studied, New Zealanders suffered because of various challenges, mainly unemployment. The government’s response was criticised by the people who used the newspapers as a medium to unleash their frustration about the fairness of unemployment relief for the unemployed and taxation of those who were employed. Some people who struggled in between jobs, as well as some who found themselves being disadvantaged, turned to deviant behaviour such as fraud. The fraudsters might be thought of as the victims of the day, committing a crime of survival, not a crime of choice. Research limitations/implications This research promotes more historical studies to enrich fraud-auditing literature. The lack of detailed information reported in the newspapers during this period limits making specific links to individual circumstances. Originality/value Fraudsters have always been perceived as responsible for their destinies, but a wider social and political context is rarely examined in fraud cases. The period chosen for this paper represents the extreme condition in which the elements of motive, opportunity and rationalisation are all interwoven into one.

Protestant Work Ethic Endorsement and Social Justice Values in Developing and Developed Societies

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Ann Frey ◽  
Lawrence Alfred Powell
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Work Ethic ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Protestant Ethic ◽  
Protestant Work Ethic ◽  
Free Enterprise ◽  
Political Conditions ◽  
The Protestant Work Ethic ◽  
Ethic Scale

Taking Weber's Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism thesis as the point of departure, this paper compares work ethic endorsement patterns and social justice correlates in a developing society, Jamaica, and a developed society, New Zealand. A condensed version of Mirels and Garrett's Protestant work ethic scale and related demographic and social values-related measures were administered at Jamaican and New Zealand universities. High and low Protestant ethic (PE) clusters were isolated, within each culture, among comparable samples of undergraduate social science students, and multiple analysis of variance applied to test effects of culture, Protestant religious affiliation and related “social justice values” variables (welfare state support, redistribution, intergenerational equity, free enterprise, social distance from the disadvantaged, social Darwinism). Results suggest there are significant cultural differences between high and low PE scorers on key justice-related societal values often seen as being associated with the Protestant work ethic. Possible reasons for the differences are advanced in light of Jamaican and New Zealand social and political conditions.

scholarly journals The Protestant Work Ethic and Attitudes Towards Work

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-117
Author(s):  
Raluca Rusu
Keyword(s):  
Work Ethic ◽  
Max Weber ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Hard Work ◽  
Protestant Work Ethic ◽  
Military Students ◽  
Work Ethics ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
The Protestant Work Ethic

Abstract In this paper we will present the concept of Protestant Work Ethics as conceptualized and measured by several authors, starting with its initiator, Max Weber, in order to emphasize the importance of work ethic on attitudes towards work. We will also analyze the four dimensions of work ethic - hard work, nonleisure, independence and asceticism, identified by Blau and Ryan (1997) among military students, trying to identify how they vary according to a series of socio- demographic data of military students.

scholarly journals Strained or broken? The future(s) of the public service bargain

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lodge
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
The Political ◽  
Public Servants ◽  
The Public ◽  
Science Professor ◽  
The People

Over 60 years ago the first political science professor at Wellington’s Victoria University, Leslie Lipson, noted in his 1948 The Politics of Equality that: With the political parties the modern [New Zealand]civil service has struck a mutually beneficial bargain. By guaranteeing to public servants a life’s career and a pension, parties have foresworn the use of patronage and have guaranteed to the state’s employees their tenure of their jobs. In return the parties expect, and the public servants owe, equal loyalty to any government which the people have placed in office. (Lipson, 1948, p.479)

scholarly journals Gerakan Puritanisme Persatuan Islam di Kepulauan Sapeken-Sumenep Madura, 1972-2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Nurul Fatimah
Keyword(s):  
Work Ethic ◽  
Max Weber ◽  
Protestant Ethic ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Religious Organization ◽  
The People ◽  
High Work

<p>This study focuses on the discussion of puritanisme movement in Sapeken islands Sumenep-Madura. As it is known that the area of Madura is a very loyal tradisional Islamic support base. But especially in the Sapeken islands, the puritanical Islamic can actually thrive. The purpose of this study is to know the process of development of the puritanitanism movement (Persis). This study also attempts to answer the question of why puritanical islamic is capable of developing in the Sapeken islands. Using the protestant ethic of Max Weber, it can be seen that the entry of the puritanism movement (Persis) is base on the socio-religious conditions of society which are still considered far from the pure Islamic teachings. Therefore (Persis)  perform purification of tradisional Islamic traditions and lokal art that still contains elements of <em>takhayul, bid`ah dan khurafat, </em>with the aim of returing the ummah to the teachings of the qur`an and sunnah. Throgh education institutions, Persis instilling a puritan ideology to the people, in addition, Persis in the Sapeken islands became more dominant religious organization, evident from the development of more rapid educational institutions due to the high work ethic of puritan muslims (Persis).</p>

Luxury Communist Jesus

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Sandford
Keyword(s):  
Work Ethic ◽  
Protestant Work Ethic ◽  
The Face ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Protestant Work Ethic

This article begins by outlining contemporary anti-work politics, which form the basis of Sandford’s reading. After providing a brief history of anti-work politics, Sandford examines recent scholarly treatments of Jesus’ relationship to work. An examination of a number of texts across the gospel traditions leads Sandford to argue that Jesus can be read as a ‘luxury communist’ whose behaviour flies in the face of the Protestant work ethic. Ultimately, Sandford foregrounds those texts in which Jesus discourages his followers from working, and undermines work as an ‘end in itself’, contextualising these statements in relation to other gospel texts about asceticism and the redistribution of wealth.

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