View source for World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction

{{Infobox book
| name           = World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction
| image          = [[File:World-Systems_Analysis An Introduction.png|200px|alt=Cover]]
| image_caption  = 
| author         = Immanuel Wallerstein
| translator     = 
| country        = USA
| language       = English
| series         = a John Hope Franklin Center Book
| publisher      = Duke University Press
| pub_date       = 2004
| pages          = 128
| isbn           = 978-0822334422
| oclc           = 
| congress       = 
}}

Immanuel Wallerstein’s association with world-systems theory dates back to his multi-volume ‘’The Modern World System,’’ which was first published in 1974.  ‘’World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction’’ sums up the theoretical underpinnings of other works in 90 short pages.  Part of what enabled Wallerstein to write such a succinct version of his world-system theory is that he nearly entirely omits examples of the phenomena that he refers to; instead, this work is highly abstracted and if regarded in isolation could be regarded as vague.  Wallerstein argues that the capitalist modern world system originated around 1650, and that the system is reaching limits which will bring about a crisis which will resolve in the creation of a new world-system.
==Structure==

The book is divided into 5 chapters, and concludes with a glossary of terms.  The first chapter examines the historiography of the theory of world-systems analysis.  The next three chapters examine the formation and the workings of the extant world-system.  In the last chapter Wallerstein looks to the future and hypothesizes about how our understanding of world-systems can provide a clue towards how events will unfold going forward.  Wallerstein notes that for some readers the last chapter may be appropriate to read first – but he does not specify which type of reader this would be, or which chapters should be read next.<ref>Immanuel Wallerstein, World-Systems Theory: An Introduction, (Durham: Duke University Press, 2004), Kindle Location 160.  “Some readers will prefer to jump to chapter 5 immediately, to make chapter 5 into chapter 1.”</ref>  However, it is the opinion of this reviewer that those more interested in his theory, or those seeking a more casual read should approach the book beginning with chapter 5.  From there the logical procession would be 2,3,4, and 1 would be optional.  Chapter 1 primarily serves to acknowledge that Wallerstein’s ideas did not form in a vacuum, but instead built upon a pre-existing world-historical tradition – but does not greatly contribute to the readers understanding of world-systems as Wallerstein formulates it.

==World-Systems: Mind the Hyphen==

Wallerstein makes much of the hyphenation of world-system, a practice that some authors like Janet Abu-Lughod eschew.<ref> Janet Abu-Lughod, Before European Hegemony, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1989).</ref>  To Wallerstein “putting in the hyphen was intended to underline that we are talking not about systems, economies, empires of the (whole) world, but about systems, economies, empires that are a world (but quite possibly, and indeed usually, not encompassing the entire globe).”<ref> Immanuel Wallerstein, World-Systems Theory: An Introduction, (Durham: Duke University Press, 2004), 16.</ref>

==The Modern World-System==

Wallerstein relies heavily upon the foundation laid by Karl Marx and in his view a world-system is defined best by the “division of labor which is constituted within it.”<ref> Immanuel Wallerstein, World-Systems Theory: An Introduction, (Durham: Duke University Press, 2004), 23</ref>  Specifically Wallerstein sees the modern world-system as being defined by its capitalist nature.  He argues that while wage labor and other components of capitalism existed far earlier than his proposed start date of the modern system, the modern system is the first which prioritized <abbr title="Its all about the Benjamins">"endless accumulation of capital,"</abbr> and it is this feature which he identifies as existing uniquely after 1650.

==Core/Periphery Relations==

Underpinning the modern world-system is the concept of core and peripheral productive processes.  These terms are defined relationally; one cannot refer to a world-system consisting solely of core or peripheral processes.   According to Wallerstein, core processes are those that are more heavily monopolized and therefore are more profitable than peripheral processes.<ref> Immanuel Wallerstein, World-Systems Theory: An Introduction, (Durham: Duke University Press, 2004), 17</ref>  While core and periphery are often used as shorthand for core process and peripheral process, the terms are ‘’not’’ inherently geographical – it just so happens that core processes tend to centralize into ‘core areas.’  Similarly, core regions and peripheral regions need not be homogenous and in practice rarely are.  Core regions such as industrialized nations have their own peripheries within them, and peripheral states have core regions such as urban centers.  What is most important is that relation favors the concentration of capital within core areas, and thus ‘underdevelopment’ of peripheral areas is an expected consequence of this redistributive mechanism.

==Asymptotic Limits of World-Systems==

Despite choosing 1650 as a start date for the modern world-system, Wallerstein is not asserting that the current world-system is the first world-system, or the only world-system possible.  In fact he argues that world-systems have limits which he describes as asymptotic.  The modern world-system involves the increasing urbanization of land and the centralization of populations in urban centers.  While this process can continue for a long time, it is inherently finite: once all of the land is urbanized or all of the population lives in urban centers no more urbanization can take place.<ref> Immanuel Wallerstein, World-Systems Theory: An Introduction, (Durham: Duke University Press, 2004), 80-81.</ref>  This serves as a limit to our capitalist world-system because as land becomes increasingly urbanized companies lose the ability to achieve the low production costs necessary to keep profits high.  If profitability declines to zero, or near zero, businesses will have no incentive to continue functioning as they do – resulting in an abrupt cessation of capitalism world-system.
==The Path Forward==
The final chapter of the book, or the first depending upon what order the reader selects, looks critically at the modern world-system.  Wallerstein sees the current system reaching asymptotic limits which include urbanization, resource consumption, and waste generation.  He predicts a transition period marked by instability and increased violence as people continue to seek to benefit from the extant system while simultaneously pushing it inexorably towards its limits.
==Sources Cited== 
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[[Category:Theory and Methodology]]

[[Category: Global History]]

[[Category:Immanuel Wallerstein]]

[[Category: Book Summaries]]