Max Weber’s Conception of “iron cage” in Today’s Rationality

Rationalization and secularization are the two concepts that Max Weber, one of the best-

known German sociologists, mainly discusses in his works. Rationalization and secularization were

considered to be the results of modernism and capitalism. Modernity brought mankind not only a new

form of sight, but also capitalism, which widened the gap between the rich and the poor. Initially,

Weber mostly is known for the sociology of religion (father of the sociology of religion). He believed

that the best space for capitalism is Protestantism. In this case, Max Weber presented in his significant

book, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, the theoretical idea of “iron cage” in 1905. In

this book, Weber mentioned about the relation between “protestant ethic” and “capitalism”. This

relation bureaucratically and economically shaped society and they became central to life. On the

other hand, “Iron cage” is basically meaning increasing of rationalization in social life. By control and

rational calculation “iron cage” dropping people down in systems. Also, technological and capitalist

productions take the role of force in society. Therefore, it was limited people’s and society’s free

action and by hierarchical system people born into a cage which they could not get out of. By the rise

of modernism and individualism, the moral worth of the individual, people recedes from social life

and draw lines for their own life. Moreover, creators became a slave of own creates. All in all, today’s

world become more complex and the sociologist tries to explain and understand society. In this case,

Max Weber tries to make society’s problem understandable in many processes and the idea of “iron

cage” is taking consider by the various sociologist. Furthermore, the terms of modernism,

industrialization, freewill, bureaucracy and/or individualism are also associating with the “iron cage”.

First of all, in this modern time of history, we are experiencing fast development

overtime/series of events than ever before. Especially, economic changes more rapidly shaped society.

However, this new type of society caused a lot of adversities. As Weber (1930) asserts, ‘The idea of an

“obligation to search for and then accept a vocational calling” now wanders around in our lives like

the ghost of beliefs no longer anchored in religion’ (cited by Kalberg, 2001, p. 179). Thus, our lives
covered by an invisible cage and people cannot act or live outside of the system. Weber’s ideas of

sociology were noticed late in worldwide. His writings have serious effects on social orders after

World War II. In this way, like his other ideas the concept of “iron cage” also influence sociological

research. On the hand, “Weber was much affected by a visit to the United States where he was struck

by its ‘capitalist spirit’ and industrial practices, especially the scale and human consequences of large

bureaucratic administrative organizations”(Greenwood & Lawrence: Editorial, 2005, p. 493).

Therefore, the ideas of Weber influenced by American society. During that day, also today, in USA

people became more freedom, however, these free actions produce selfishness and individual

loneliness. People made their ‘iron cage’ and their own turn around in it. The American Dream had

only for motivated workers. As in novel of John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, illustrated the workers

live by capitalist orders and then all they have is their dreams and it became like their “iron cage”.

Today, there is no difference. People live in a modern place in wealth, but they turn to modern slave.

Life always on interests and the system which is Force-imposed prevent people can leave in their “iron

cage”.

Secondly, the bureaucratic organizations build an “iron cage” which like a prison and limits

people. It prevents the sense of fun, ability to create interesting things and individual effort to doing

something. As Weber (1968b) mentioned, “The bureaucratic organization, with its specialization of

trained skills, its delineation of competencies, its rules and hierarchical relations of obedience…is…in

the process of erecting a cage of bondage which persons-lacking all powers of resistance- will perhaps

one day be forced to inhabit, as the fellahs of ancient Egypt” (cited by Kalberg, 2001, p. 179). Thus,

bureaucratic hierarchies can control resources in pursuit of their own personal interests. Workers or

random people cannot control resource or they cannot use facilities. So, the idea of free-will is looking

like more imaginary. Moreover, “The history of modernity is the history of the emergence of social

and cultural actors who increasingly lost their belief that modernity was the concrete definition of the

good” (Touraine, 1995, p. 177). In this case, rationalization and individualism claimed right for

everyone to enter the modern world which was productive and free, but in time people lost belief

about that.
 As a result, as Weber presented the concept of “iron cage” many years ago, however it is still

relevant to our lives/society today. The USA is a crucial example for understanding today’s relation

with the concept. “People used to see themselves as part of a large order. In some case, this was a

cosmic order, a ‘great chain of Being,’ in which humans figured in their proper place along with

angels, heavenly bodies, and our fellow earthly creatures. This hierarchical order in the universe was

reflected in the hierarchies of human society. But at the same time as they restricted us, these orders

gave meaning to the world and to the activities of social life…” (Taylor, 1991, p.3). Consequently, the

concept of “iron cage” as in the time of Weber still today relevant with our society, because it can be

clearly seen as mentioned in previous paragraphs our society restricted by hierarchical orders.

References:

Greenwood, R. & Lawrence, S. T. (2005). The Iron Cage in the Information Age: The Legacy and

Relevance of Max Weber for Organization Studies. Editorial. Organization Studies 26(4):

493- 499 Copyright. SAGE Publications, London. Retrieved from:

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0170840605051465

Kalberg, S. (2001). The Modern World as a Monolithic Iron Cage? Utilizing Max Weber to Define the

Internal Dynamics of the American Political Culture Today. Amazon Marketplace Web

Service Journal. Retrieved from

http://maxweberstudies.org/kcfinder/upload/files/MWSJournal/1.2pdfs/1.2%20178-195.pdf

Parsons, T., Giddens, A. (1930). The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. (Translation)

Unwin Hyman, London & Boston.

Taylor, C. (1991). The Malaise of Modernity. Toronto: House of Anansi Press.

Touraine, A. (1995). Critique of Modernity. Cambridge, Blackwell.

SEMIH TEKIN