Turning Tide Ch.5

Capitalism is closely associated with Calvinism. Max Weber argues that capitalism could not have developed without the Reformation and Calvin's interpretation of it.
Weber aims to counter Karl Marx's economic determinism by arguing for the role of religious and ethical ideas in shaping modern business.
Calvinism's doctrine of predestination suggested that most people were damned and only a select few were saved, creating a pessimistic outlook on salvation.

Predestination led people to believe that hard work was essential for salvation, creating a link between an individual’s financial success and their spiritual standing.
As a result, acquiring money through labor became associated with leading a godly life, even if the methods were sometimes questionable.
Economic activities grew in Protestant societies, evolving from small-scale handicrafts to a fully developed textile industry and, eventually, the Industrial Revolution.

Zwingli’s doctrine introduced the concept of hard work as a way to generate income, aligning with the beliefs held in Zurich and Geneva.
This work ethic spread to the United States, affecting how business was conducted, particularly in Hawaii, where missionary descendants contributed to the creation of sugar plantations.
The Calvinistic emphasis on hard work resonated well in the Hawaiian context, where labor was essential for agriculture, and a thrifty lifestyle became valued.

The indigenous Hawaiian culture diverged significantly from the Calvinistic capitalist approach.
Traditionally, Hawaiians worked at a relaxed pace, concentrating on community and leisure rather than adhering to strict work schedules.
The notion of a workday exceeding four hours was foreign to many Hawaiians, contrasting sharply with the rigid plantation work culture imposed by Western standards.

The concept of accumulating wealth through land ownership was alien to many Hawaiians, who typically viewed land as a communal resource.
Sharing was a common practice, while the individualistic notion of owning land conflicted with traditional beliefs, leading to tension as Western methods sought to redefine land ownership and economic interactions.

The first traders in Hawaii were British, capitalizing on the profitable fur trade and establishing links to various global markets.
Ships in Hawaiian waters turned the islands into strategic trading posts, which included whaling ships that brought economic activity and contributed to the local economy.
The commerce involved not only provisioning whalers but also establishing agriculture, with Hawaiians growing produce like Irish potatoes sought after by visiting sailors.

The whaling boom collapsed after the discovery of petroleum, leading to a decline in that industry as alternatives for lamp fuel emerged.
The shift towards sugar production began with early missionary-operated mills, leading to the establishment of a burgeoning sugar industry and land reforms that catered to newcomer investors.

The Great Mähele from 1845-1852 aimed to redistribute land among the natives and foreigners but often favored the latter.
The intention was to provide land ownership to the maka'ainana (common people), ensuring they could cultivate and manage their plots independently.

Only a small percentage of eligible natives benefited from the Great Mähele, with many unable or unwilling to navigate the complex legal requirements needed to claim land.
The disparity between Western and native approaches to land ultimately resulted in a majority of the land falling into the hands of foreign investors.

The reform led to socio-economic changes that displaced many natives and turned them into laborers on their own lands.
The introduction of capitalist concepts disrupted traditional communal systems, creating a cultural clash that degraded old practices of self-sufficiency and sharing.
Long-term, Hawaii's economy became heavily influenced by Western interests, leading to cultural erosion and economic disenfranchisement of native Hawaiians.

The blending of Calvinism and capitalism transformed Hawaiian society, and the impacts of these changes continue to affect the indigenous population today.
The Great Mähele is regarded by many as a failure from a native perspective, having perpetuated economic inequality and undermined traditional values.