The Identity based on Knowledge Generation. Highlight & Overview

Abstract

This study explores the role of knowledge generation methods—top-down and bottom-up—in shaping identity across cultural, social, and religious dimensions. Using empirical evidence from the GLOBE Project and Pew Research Center, the study finds that bottom-up approaches foster individual freedom in class- and party-based societies (e.g., Western Europe and North America) but result in societal instability and state violence toward "the other." Conversely, in tribal and sect-based societies (e.g., South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa), bottom-up approaches lead to communal violence, with the state exhibiting tolerance toward "the other." The study hypothesizes that top-down knowledge generation fosters societal and state tolerance, creating a stable identity transcending individual and communal boundaries. The findings emphasize that cultural alignment (e.g., future orientation and power distance) and social structures significantly influence identity outcomes. By introducing knowledge generation as a critical variable, this research advances identity theory and provides a framework for practical applications in sociology, psychology, and policymaking.