Max Weber (1864–1920) has few peers among European social theorists. His comparative historical studies of the structure, beliefs, and behavior patterns in the major civilizations in the world have influenced political and sociological analysts for more than a century No one in the social sciences can ignore his formulations, contributions, and original insights in the discussion of concepts such as rationalization, charisma, legitimacy, class, status, power, and bureaucracy. Less well known is his concept of patrimonialism, his version of Oriental despotism. There is no dispute about the genius of Max Weber and his honored place in early twentieth-century European thought, but legitimate differences exist about the essence and major thrust of his writings. Weber's multifarious publications on so many varied subjects illustrate an extraordinary intellectual mastery and an iridescent approach to complex social and political issues. They exemplify scrupulous integrity if not always total limpidity.

Beginning as a student of law in Heidelberg in 1882, whose first teaching appointment was in that field in 1892, Weber also studied economic and social history in Berlin (1884–5), in 1895 was nominated to a professorship of economics in Freiburg, and then in 1897 to a post in political science and to a chair at Heidelberg. Only at the end of his life, after a breakdown, travel abroad (including to the United States), and work as an independent scholar, did he receive in 1919 an appointment in sociology in Munich.