After the horrible pseudoscientific theories that there is a superior German race which derives its attributes from some non-sense innate features, this doesn’t get much talked about. The difference is with human cultures. And only a few cultures are superior.
Not only socioeconomic background shapes the way cultures are made. These are the distinct cultures that make the countries where they are.
History of cultural and racial views
During the age of colonial expansion, European powers sought to justify their domination over other peoples and lands. They often portrayed themselves as culturally and racially superior to the indigenous peoples they encountered. This mindset laid the groundwork for the idea that different races inherently possessed different cultural traits and abilities.
I assume the position that tribes of people where winter weather prevailed have genetically higher intelligence (IQ) compared to their counterparts who historically lived in hot weather. But that doesn’t mean some cultures are superior or not.
However, in the 19th century, various pseudoscientific theories emerged to support racial hierarchies. Prominent scientists, such as Johann Friedrich Blumenbach and Carl Linnaeus, developed racial classifications. They ranked different human groups based on physical characteristics like skin color and facial features. These classifications were often used to argue for the superiority of certain races over others.
We know these days that high or prominent cheekbones, triangular faces, and broad in the middle of height are not really reliable predictors among the culture (yes, these were characteristic of German people). The key lies not only in genetical composition, but also in culture. Some cultures are superior.
What is culture and how some cultures are superior, and some not
We may talk about some shared beliefs, customs, traditions, values, and artifacts that characterize a particular group of people or society.
We also have ways how to measure by “hard data”. These are surveys and questionnaires, cultural dimensions frameworks, content analysis, cultural consumption patterns, and cross-cultural comparison.
But this article is rather about a particular behavior the respective cultures show and then what it results in – scientific achievement, economic output, and cultural impact.
All of this likely goes back to tribal cultures. Then there are influences such as humanism, the Victorian era, the Renaissance or the Roman Empire culture.
But there must have been so many influences unnoticed. Since historians detest mathematics and statistics, we have
How come some cultures are superior in terms of economic output?
The main reason why some cultures are superior in terms of GDP is plain voting culture.
The voting culture makes institutional factors. A good government with good agency assures good governance of the particular culture in the respective country). The ability (or desire to perform in the formal educational system), work ethic, and innovations. And there goes the educational system itself.
But the culture has also a huge impact on the means of the workforce, politicians, and managers. So even if the voters had a superb culture, the politicians don’t have to have a good culture.
What makes the educational system excellent (or the least worst)?
When you want a better educational system, you must have a culture that makes the institutions make it happen. Then you have the culture that makes the difference in how people perform in it (professors, students).
However, there is a big Uncle Sam who makes some countries’ universities good or not.
Thus, some cultures have innovative drives, like studying in the elite-given educational system.
Let’s be incorrect. What cultures are superior?
No politically correct medium tells you what cultures are superior. But I do!
1. Ashkenazi Jews – I cannot hide I am absolutely astounded by their socioeconomic achievements. They study hard, work hard, and have an enormous influence
2. Germans – innovative, prone to risk, desire to educate, precise; they had the best universities before WW2, mediocre after the war as Germany is controlled from outside by soft power (France, USA, GB control the economy, therefore politicians; and one foreign secret had settled in)
3. The British – their culture is superior, they have a good economy, and great universities (if we compare it with others)
4. Americans – their culture is based on the British culture
5. Koreans – strong work ethic, make great economy
6. Japanese – ditto
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