What does this word mean?

Question

I am going to post the short paragraph here. Because of my lack of English study, I cannot understand what it says. Here we go:

SOCIAL SCIENCE: SEE THE SOCIETY FIRST

Consider, for example, the views of Max Weber(1922). Weber drew a line between two types of societies: preindustrial (traditional) and industrial (nontraditional). People in preindustrial societies are inseparable from traditions and customs. In these societies, people's desires and actions are viewed as appropriate and inappropriate on the basis of their links-or lack thereof-to the existing customs and rules.

What does the last sentence mean? Is my understanding correct like "people's desires and actions are viewed as appropriate or inappropriate on their links or if there is no such link, on the basis of the existing customs and rules"?

Answer 1

whaat?

Answer 2

People's desires and actions are viewed as appropriate or inappropriate based on whether or not the behavior is acceptable to the existing customs and rules.



I don't know what is meant by "links." It could be difficulty expressing something if it is written in English as a second language.

Answer 3

"or if there is no such link"



No. It doesn't mean that. It's like saying that something could be affected by money--or the lack of money--but money is the thing that affected it.



Either these people had links to existing customs and rules, and this affected their actions



OR



These people did NOT have links to existing customs and rules, and this affected their actions



Wow...no wonder you didn't understand it. Kind of tough to explain...