ABSTRACT
Weber’s four “rationalization of social action” models constitute a central component of his civilizations analytic. However, he provides further guidance to sociologists of civilizations beyond these “developmental” models. As a consequence of his thorough surveying of the 2,500-year histories of civilizations East and West, Weber discovers an entire range of further models that must be included in the conceptual analytic for the study of civilizations. They expand its conceptual framework.
This reconstruction here turns to these “further salient” constructs: the universal organizations (the family, clan, and traditional neighborhood) and his social carrier concepts: status groups, classes, and sects. His ethnic group, nations, and world view models must also be included as helpful heuristic tools. Weber’s civilizational analytic then forms mixed-type models, logical-interaction constructs, and routinization models (of charisma and salvation paths). All offer modes of orientation and guidance to researchers addressing the complex origins, contours, and trajectories of civilizations.
