This book pursues the theoretical aim of shedding light on the old question raised by Max Weber about the relation between capitalism, (religious) ethos and society. The empirical study consists of a description of the social structures, their embodiment in the habitus and world-views in Laos against the background of a critical revision of Pierre Bourdieu's sociology. To achieve these aims, the author develops a qualitative methodology as neither Weber nor Bourdieu explained how to empirically study habitus and ethos.

Introduction: Religion, Capitalism and Society

Part I. Capitalism and Sociocultures

1. Sociocultures and History

2. Colonial Transformation

3. Socialist Transformation

4. Capitalist Transformation

Part II. Habitus Groups and Classes

5. Capitalism, Habitus and Society

6. Sociocultures and Classes

7. Habitus Groups

8. Classification and Language-Games

Part III. Layers of Meaning and Practices of Religion

9. Religion and Division of Work

10. Objective Layers of Religion

11. Ethos and Religion

12. Habitus and Belief: A Case Study of Ban Pha Khao

Conclusion

Boike Rehbein received his PhD in philosophy before turning to sociology and global studies. He is Full Professor of Society and Transformation in Asia and Africa at Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany.