Page 101 - Cultures and Organizations

More Equal than Others 83

TABLE 3.5 Key Differences Between Small- and
Large-Power-Distance Societies
III: The State and Ideas

SMALL POWER DISTANCE LARGE POWER DISTANCE

The use of power should be legitimate Might prevails over right: whoever
and follow criteria of good and evil. holds the power is right and good.
Skills, wealth, power, and status need Skills, wealth, power, and status
not go together. should go together.
Mostly wealthier countries with a Mostly poorer countries with a small
large middle class. middle class.
All should have equal rights. The powerful should have privileges.
Power is based on formal position, Power is based on tradition or family,
expertise, and ability to give rewards. charisma, and the ability to use force.
The way to change a political system The way to change a political system
is by changing the rules (evolution). is by changing the people at the top
(revolution).
There is more dialogue and less There is less dialogue and more
violence in domestic politics. violence in domestic politics.
Pluralist governments based on the Autocratic or oligarchic governments
outcome of majority votes. based on co-optation.
The political spectrum shows a strong The political spectrum, if allowed to
center and weak right and left wings. exist, has a weak center and strong
right and left wings.
There are small income differentials There are large income differentials in
in society, further reduced by the tax society, further increased by the tax
system. system.
Scandals end political careers of Scandals involving power holders are
those involved. usually covered up.

Participative theories of management: Power-based practice of
Christian New Testament, Marx. management: Confucius, Plato,
Machiavelli.

languages all derive from Low Latin and were adopted in countries once
part of the Roman Empire, or, in the case of Latin America, in countries
colonized by Spain and Portugal, which themselves were former colonies
of Rome. Germanic languages are spoken in countries that remained “bar-
baric” in Roman days, in areas once under Roman rule but reconquered