INDUSTRIALIZATION AND DIVORCE: A CROSS-CULTURAL ANALYSIS

There has been extensive discussion of the relationship between marital stability and societal complexity. Goode suggests that as societies become industrialized, the division of labor will act as a stabilizing force providing cohesion. Nimkoff maintains that the industrialization of society will result in anomic conditions. Yet, theoretical positions have not been supported much beyond descriptive accounting of trends. This paper focuses on the relationship of divorce to levels of industrialization. Data on changes in rates of divorce and industrialization over a 20-year period are examined for 17 countries. No significant relationship is observed. Therefore, neither Goode's nor Nimkoff's position was supported by the data. Possible explanations are provided.