Christopher Chase-Dunn world-systems theory

Lecture Outline World-systems Nested networks Core/periphery relations The evolution of world-systems

The comparative world-systems perspective n February 2 *C. Chase-Dunn and B. Lerro, Social Change, Chapter 2,” The comparative world- systems approach” (course web site)C. Chase-Dunn and B. Lerro, Social Change n C. Chase-Dunn and T.D. Hall, Rise and Demise n Thomas R. Shannon, An Introduction to the World-Systems Perspective

Definition of a world-system n A system of societies, an intersocietal system n Often multicultural: people with different cultures are linked together by trade, communications, conflict and alliances n Example: the modern world-system of national societies: the U.S., Mexico, El Salvador, etc. The whole system Small, Medium and Large world-systems World means the world to which people are connected Only the most recent world-system is global

Nested interaction networks n Bulk goods network (BGN) n Political-military network (PMN) n Prestige goods network (PGN) n Information network (IN) Place-centric Fall-off

Nested interaction nets

Core/periphery hierarchy

More core/periphery relations n Not all world-systems have core/periphery structures n Core/periphery differentiation (societies with different degrees of population density and different levels of complexity are interacting with one another n Core/periphery hierarchy: one society or some societies are dominating and exploiting other societies

Central system pmn chronograph

East/west chronograph

Iteration model

Rise, fall and upward sweeps